“A fake American citizen performing who publicly hates America. I cannot support that.”
The problem? Residents of Puerto Rico have been U.S. citizens since 1917. By Monday morning, the tweet had reached more than 60 million users on X, with over 21,000 reposts, most of them dunking on Paul for a perceived mix of ignorance, hypocrisy, and political grandstanding. Critics were quick to note that Paul lives in Puerto Rico, brands himself as “El Gallo de Dorado” after the town of Dorado, and routinely waves the Puerto Rican flag when promoting boxing star Amanda Serrano.
The most cutting rebuke came from Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who quote-tweeted Paul with a blistering response.
“Didn’t you MOVE to Puerto Rico to avoid paying your taxes while kids across America go hungry?” Ocasio-Cortez wrote. “Meanwhile Benito actually funds low income kids’ access to arts and sports programs, while you defund them. Of course you’re mad. He makes you look small.”
Criticism From Close By
Even Serrano Paul’s marquee fighter under Most Valuable Promotions publicly distanced herself from the remarks, calling them “wrong.” His brother, Logan Paul, also criticized the post, albeit only after first expressing his own dissatisfaction with Bad Bunny’s performance. Facing mounting criticism, Paul attempted an uncharacteristic retreat early Monday morning.
“The problem with my tweet is the word fake being misinterpreted,” Paul wrote. “He’s not a fake citizen obviously because he’s Puerto Rican… Moreso Bunny is fake because of his values and criticism of our great country.”
Paul followed up with a longer clarification, insisting he was not attacking Puerto Ricans but instead lashing out at Bad Bunny’s criticism of ICE and U.S. immigration policy.
“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,” Paul wrote. “And I agree love is more powerful than hate. Love America.”
The attempted cleanup did little to slow the outrage.
Paul’s Political Outrage
Paul’s comments echoed a broader right-wing backlash that had been simmering since Bad Bunny was announced as the halftime performer in September. Among MAGA-aligned figures, criticism of the Puerto Rican artist intensified in the weeks leading up to the Super Bowl a movement openly encouraged by Donald Trump and his supporters.
It was no surprise that Paul joined the chorus. He has been a vocal Trump ally and was recently spotted alongside the former president awkwardly seated next to Dana White in Trump’s luxury box at the College Football Playoff National Championship. What was surprising was how quickly Paul lost control of the narrative.
In attempting to score political points. Paul instead reignited long-standing criticisms about opportunism, performative patriotism, and selective outrage particularly for a man who has built business empires, tax advantages, and promotional leverage while living in the very place he appeared to diminish. Bad Bunny promised the world would dance. Jake Paul ensured the internet would roast.
