Bad Bunny Tests Positive for COVID-19; Forced to Cancel His AMA Performance Last Minute

Photo by Amy Sussman/BBMA2020/Getty Images

On Sunday night, viewers of the American Music Awards were left disappointed when they waited hours for a Bad Bunny performance…that never came.

On Monday, Bad Bunny’s PR team released a statement addressing the situation. “Bad Bunny was originally set to perform his #1 global hit “Dákiti” with Jhay Cortez live for the first time at the AMAs,” said Acoustyle Communication. “But unfortunately, the artist tested positive for COVID-19, which forced him to cancel the presentation.” There is no word as to the state of the reggaeton star’s condition.

Prior to the AMAs, the show had announced that Bad Bunny would be performing “Dákiti” during the program. Instead, viewers were treated to a an at-home recording of Bad Bunny announcing Becky G as Best Female Latin Artist, and that’s it.

Suspicious of the last-minute change in plans, fans quickly began speculating that Bad Bunny had caught the coronavirus and was forced to cancel his performance. After all, the seemed like the only logical explanation. Bad Bunny has never been one to cancel performances before. So the announcement of his positive COVID-19 test came as a disappointing (if not surprising) confirmation.

Although COVID-19 has crippled many aspects of the entertainment industry, Bad Bunny has nonetheless had a very eventful year. Not only did he release his album “YHLQMDLG” in February, but he has been promoting it the entire year, despite the pandemic. The album has been met with near universal critical acclaim. Eighteen of his songs charted in Billboard’s US Hot Latin Songs Top 20.

Bad Bunny also announced lucrative brand partnerships with Crocs and Adidas. Not only that, but he filmed his acting debut for the upcoming season of Narcos. So it’s safe to say that this positive test has added to the craziness of Bad Bunny’s already very hectic year.

Naturally, fans flocked to Twitter to express the range of the emotions they felt at the news that their prince was sick.

As if 2020 couldn’t get any worse.

Of course, Bad Bunny fans were quick to generate memes about the entire situation.

It seems like a lot of fans are trying to cope with the news through humor.

If this development doesn’t seem like a storyline snatched right out of a telenovela, we don’t know what is.

This fan decided that Bad Bunny’s illness means they will now be dedicating their life to science.

Even though Bad Bunny seems like one of those larger-than-life personalities that is indestructible, the fact of his positive test proves that everyone is at risk of contracting this virus. Even mega-stars.

This person expressed their unmitigated grief at the news.

We feel this so hard.

But in all seriousness, we truly hope Bad Bunny quickly recovers and remains happy, healthy, and safe. Despite the internet memes out there, COVID-19 is no joke. We all have to take precautions like wearing a mask, washing our hands frequently, and practicing social distancing–especially during the upcoming holiday season.