‘When Are We Going to Do Something?’: Bad Bunny Speaks Out on the Power Crisis in Puerto Rico
The blackout wasn’t just electrical—it was emotional. During Holy Week, more than 1.4 million people in Puerto Rico were left without power. Hundreds of thousands more, without water. And while interim Governor Jenniffer González asked for patience, Bad Bunny only needed five words to capture what many were feeling: “¿Cuándo vamos a hacer algo?” (“When are we going to do something?”)
From his social media, Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio—better known as Bad Bunny—ignited a conversation about the fragility of Puerto Rico’s electrical system, a situation that has been building for years.
Another blackout in Puerto Rico
According to the Associated Press, the failure began around noon on Wednesday, April 16. The entire island went dark, including the international airport, hospitals, and hotels filled with tourists. Chaos set in immediately: paralyzed traffic, closed businesses, endless lines at gas stations, and entire families scrambling for ice and candles to get through the night.
By Thursday morning, only 47% of customers had their power restored, according to LUMA Energy, the company responsible for transmission and distribution. Meanwhile, 17% of the population was still without water, according to the Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authority.
Governor González said it would take 48 to 72 hours to restore service to most, but admitted that “our system is very fragile.” She also estimated that every day without power results in $230 million in lost revenue for the island.
Bad Bunny and Puerto Rico: a bond that doesn’t fade
Bad Bunny’s reaction didn’t surprise those familiar with his activism. Hours after the blackout, he tweeted, “¿Cuándo vamos a hacer algo?” He also shared a tweet from pro-independence gubernatorial candidate Juan Dalmau, criticizing the government’s management and the contracts with LUMA and Genera PR.
The artist doesn’t just sing about Puerto Rico—he lives and feels its struggles. In January, he released his album Debí Tirar Más Fotos, which he described as “a declaration of love for Puerto Rico.” In an interview with The New York Times, he explained how driving through San Juan and seeing tourists enjoying the beaches while locals face hardship was one of the inspirations for tracks like “Turista” and “NuevaYol.”
“It’s like they were tourists in your life,” he said.
“El Apagón” was prophetic: a direct critique of the power system
This isn’t the first time Bad Bunny has used his art to expose Puerto Rico’s energy crisis. In 2022, he released “El Apagón,” a track from his album Un Verano Sin Ti. The music video evolved into a short documentary, directed by Kacho López Mari and featuring journalist Bianca Graulau. It highlighted the privatization of energy, community displacement, and inequality.
The video “El Apagón – Aquí Vive Gente” directly criticized LUMA Energy, Act 22, and the sale of land and beaches to wealthy foreigners. During his tour, Bad Bunny also paused performances to deliver a message about the energy crisis before performing the song.
History repeats itself: Puerto Rico without power and without answers
According to NBC News, LUMA attributed the latest outage to “a combination of factors,” including a protection system failure and vegetation on transmission lines. But the explanation hasn’t satisfied the public.
Anger is growing, and calls to terminate the contracts with LUMA and Genera PR are getting louder. Ramón Barquín III, president of the United Retail Center, warned that these blackouts harm small businesses and deter potential investors.
In a country where the electrical grid has been deteriorating for decades—well before Hurricane María in 2017—people’s patience is wearing thin.
Bad Bunny on Puerto Rico: a voice that won’t be silenced
Beyond his tweets and lyrics, Bad Bunny has played a key role in major political moments. In the summer of 2019, he was one of the leading voices calling for former governor Ricardo Rosselló’s resignation. In 2023, he released “Una Velita,” a track that addressed the country’s political situation and supported the alliance between the PIP and Movimiento Victoria Ciudadana.
“They want my river and my beach too,” he sings, referencing the land grabs happening across the island.
Benito doesn’t shy away from speaking out. His art has become an extension of his activism, and his commitment to Puerto Rico remains constant, raw, and unfiltered.
