Jake Paul clarifies fake citizen comment about Bad Bunny after Super Bowl backlash

Influencer says criticism targeted singer’s ICE remarks, not Puerto Rican citizenship, after halftime show controversy

Jake Paul has clarified remarks he made about Bad Bunny following criticism of the Puerto Rican star’s Super Bowl 2026 halftime performance.

The boxer and social media influencer initially wrote on X that he was “purposely turning off the halftime show” and could not support it because Bad Bunny “publicly hates America.” His post drew backlash, with some users pointing out that Paul lives in Puerto Rico, a U.S. territory whose residents are American citizens.

In a follow-up statement shared on X, Paul said he was not questioning anyone’s citizenship status. “To clarify: I wasn’t calling anyone a ‘fake citizen’ because they’re from Puerto Rico. I live in Puerto Rico, and I love Puerto Rico,” he wrote, noting that he has supported the island through his platform. Paul purchased a reported $20 million home in Dorado, Puerto Rico, in 2023.

Paul said his criticism was directed at what he described as public statements made by Bad Bunny against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). “If you benefit from a country and the platform it gives you, but publicly disrespect it at the same time, that’s what I mean by being a fake citizen,” he wrote, adding, “Love America.”

In another post, Paul acknowledged that the word “fake” had been misinterpreted. He said he was referring to what he sees as inconsistent values, not citizenship, and reiterated his support for Puerto Rico and Americans who back the country.

According to the New York Post, Paul’s original message was flagged on X with a contextual note stating that he has lived in Puerto Rico since 2021 and that residents of the territory are U.S. citizens.

Bad Bunny performed a 13-minute halftime set at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, delivering his show entirely in Spanish and incorporating themes celebrating Latin culture. The six-time Grammy winner also included messaging promoting unity and has previously spoken out against ICE policies.

The performance sparked mixed reactions. President Donald Trump criticized the show, calling it “an affront to the Greatness of America,” as reported by the New York Post.

Ahead of the Super Bowl, Paul attended the Winter Olympics in Milan Cortina, where he was seen sitting with U.S. Vice President JD Vance during the U.S. women’s hockey team’s 5-0 victory over Finland.