Jake Paul Calls Bad Bunny a 'Fake American' During Rant

The spectacle of Super Bowl LX was overshadowed on social media yesterday by a heated row between internet personality Jake Paul and global music superstar Bad Bunny. As the Puerto Rican artist took to the stage for the halftime show on Sunday, 8 February, Paul urged his followers to switch off their televisions. The boxer and influencer labelled the Reggaeton star a 'fake American', a comment that has sparked accusations of hypocrisy given Paul's own residence in the Caribbean territory.

Paul, who has built a career on controversy both inside and outside the boxing ring, took to X to launch his protest. He claimed that the corporations behind the National Football League (NFL) event needed to face 'consequences' for giving a platform to the artist.

'Purposefully turning off the halftime show,' Paul wrote to his millions of followers. 'Let's rally together and show big corporations they can't just do whatever they want without consequences (which equals viewership for them). You are their benefit. Realise you have power. Turn off this halftime. A fake American citizen performing who publicly hates America. I cannot support that.'

The Irony of the 'Fake American' Claim

The comments immediately drew a sharp response from fans and critics alike. Many pointed out the factual error in Paul's statement; Puerto Ricans have been citizens of the United States since 1917. However, the primary source of the backlash was the perceived hypocrisy regarding where Paul chooses to live.

Since 2021, Jake Paul and his brother, Logan Paul, have lived in Puerto Rico. They relocated from Los Angeles to the affluent town of Dorado. Critics on social media were quick to note that Paul is calling Bad Bunny a 'fake American' while living on the island that the Grammy-winning artist calls home.

Paul currently resides in a massive estate in Dorado, purchased in 2023. The property, a 12-acre estate, was bought for an estimated £12.5 million ($16 million). The mansion is a symbol of luxury, boasting 12,000 square feet of living space. It features eight bedrooms, 10 bathrooms, and a resort-style swimming pool. It also includes a hot tub capable of holding 40 people and a separate building dedicated entirely to entertainment.

Tax Breaks and Local Tensions

The friction between the Paul brothers and the local population of Puerto Rico—and by extension, Bad Bunny—is not new. It is rooted in economics. In an interview with Graham Bensinger, the brothers admitted that their move was largely motivated by tax benefits.

Puerto Rico offers significant tax incentives, known as Act 60 (formerly Act 20/22), to wealthy foreigners who move to the island. These laws allow people like Paul to pay zero tax on capital gains, a benefit not available to native Puerto Ricans. This has led to rising housing costs and gentrification, issues that Bad Bunny has frequently criticised in his music and activism.

In 2022, on the Philip DeFranco Show, Paul called Bad Bunny 'hypocritical'. Paul argued that the singer also benefits from the tax system, despite the singer's public stance against the displacement of locals. Yesterday's tweet appears to be an escalation of this long-standing feud. By calling Bad Bunny a 'fake American', Paul attacked the artist's patriotism, claiming the singer 'publicly hates America' because of his criticism of the colonial relationship between the US and Puerto Rico.

Social Media Backlash

The call for a boycott did not seem to hinder the performance, but it did ignite a firestorm online. Users on X mocked Paul for living in a territory where he does not respect the culture or the most famous representative of that culture.

One user noted that while Paul enjoys the tax-free lifestyle of the island, he attacks the identity of its people. The term 'fake American' struck a nerve, as it touched upon the complex identity of Puerto Ricans who are US citizens but often treated differently to those on the mainland.

Despite the online noise, Bad Bunny's performance went ahead as planned. However, Paul's comments have deepened the divide between the wealthy expatriates moving to the island for financial gain and the locals who feel they are being pushed out.