Unhealthy Bunny has formally been acknowledged as essentially the most essential artist of the twenty first century by the Latin music trade.
In the course of the 2025 Latin Billboard Music Awards, actress Rita Moreno shocked El Conejo Malo on stage handy him the award for High Latin Artist of the twenty first Century. Earlier than doing so, the 93-year-old, who can also be Puerto Rican, mirrored on her expertise as a Latina within the trade and the obstacles she encountered.
“Once I began my profession, being Latino in the US meant going through limitations. Alternatives have been few, virtually non-existent, and each small step ahead was a victory,” stated the Westside Story actress.
“I see an artist who brings the world to Latin tradition with the identical power and keenness that saved me going and allowed me to by no means surrender,” stated Moreno whereas a smiling Unhealthy Bunny smiling from the viewers.
The “Debí Tirar Más Fotos” singer walked on stage and commenced doing just a few salsa steps whereas the gang roared with pleasure. He then hugged Moreno as they danced and shared a second chatting away from the mic.
Throughout his acceptance speech, the artist humbly thanked followers and acknowledged his colleagues, stating that he didn’t know why he had been chosen over the remainder.
“For me, it’s an honor to obtain this award out of your arms. I respect you and admire you a lot,” he stated to Moreno. “Each time I hear different artists communicate as you probably did of me, it tells me that doing issues from a superb place and along with your coronary heart, it’s all the time the most effective determination.”
The Puerto Rican artist, the highest nominee of the night time with a historic 27 nods, additionally talked about that he knew how onerous he had labored to have a spot within the trade.
“I understand how a lot I’ve labored and never simply me however my complete workforce. On the similar time, I’m one hundred pc conscious that anybody of my colleagues may have been given this award,” added the artist who took house quite a few Latin Billboard awards, together with the one for artist of the yr.
There have been suspicions on whether or not he would make any point out of the present dialog surrounding his upcoming Tremendous Bowl Halftime efficiency, nonetheless the artist steered clear of constructing any social or political statements.
In late September, El Conejo Malo introduced that he would headline the halftime present in February. The information sparked an array of conversations round politics, tradition and the efficiency being absolutely in Spanish.
“I’ve been pondering these previous few days and after discussing it with my workforce, I feel I’ll do only one date in the US,” he wrote on X on the time.
After his No Me Quiero Ir de Aquí residency in Puerto Rico, Unhealthy Bunny revealed that he wouldn’t be including a U.S. leg to the Debí Tirar Más Fotos Tour. In an interview, he defined that he had considerations that ICE can be exterior the stadiums and that he wished to maintain his followers protected.
Unhealthy Bunny’s tour is about to kick off in November with a primary cease within the Dominican Republic.