00:00Bad Bunny hit with $16 million lawsuit weeks before Super Bowl show.
00:05Bad Bunny, the global reggaeton superstar, faces mounting legal challenges just weeks before headlining the Super Bowl 60 halftime show on February 8, 2026 at Levi's Stadium Santa Clara.
00:18The disputes, totaling $56 million in claims, center on alleged unauthorized use of others' voices in his music, threatening his commercial empire, and spotlighting broader industry tensions over voice rights.
00:32The timing is particularly sensitive, as Bad Bunny, born Benito Antonio Martinez Ocasio, is already contending with a $40 million lawsuit from his ex-girlfriend Carlyse de la Cruz Hernandez, filed in Puerto Rico.
00:46She claims her voice saying Bad Bunny Baby was used without permission in the tracks Pa Tee and Dose Meal 16.
00:54That case remains unresolved.
00:57A new $16 million suit, filed January 5, 2026, by Tainali Y. Serrano Rivera, targets Bad Bunny, his label, Remus Entertainment, and producer, Roberto La Paciencia Rosado.
01:09Rivera, a former theater student at Inter-American University of Arecibo, with Rosado, recorded the phrase,
01:17Mira, puñeta, no me quiten el perreo, via WhatsApp in 2018 for a casual student project.
01:23The recording later appeared in Bad Bunny's 2018 hit, Solo de Me, and in Aya Ojo, from his 2025 album, D.B. Tirar Mas Fotos.
01:33Rivera claims she never consented to commercial use, and that the phrase's use in merchandise, social media, concerts, and promotions violated her publicity and privacy rights, forming the basis of her damages claim.
01:47These lawsuits reflect tightening legal standards on vocal sampling and consent, with courts increasingly enforcing privacy and publicity rights even for informal recordings.
01:57Remus Entertainment's liability underscores labels' responsibility to secure clearances.
02:05A hearing is scheduled for May 2026 after the Super Bowl, coinciding with Hernandez's ongoing case.
02:11Political commentary has further fueled attention, with conservative figures criticizing Bad Bunny for his Spanish-language music and immigrant advocacy.
02:21NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell defended his Super Bowl selection, emphasizing careful consideration.
02:27The combined $56 million at stake could impact Bad Bunny's reputation and clarify intellectual property protections for casual or student-era recordings in Puerto Rico, potentially setting industry-wide precedents.
02:42Outcomes may mandate stricter clearance processes, raising production costs and reshaping consent standards for music contributions.
02:49While settlements are possible, trials risk public scrutiny, testing whether commercial success outweighs consent obligations, and influencing ethical practices across the music industry for years to come.
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