Bad Bunny Invites the World to Puerto Rico — But At What Cost?

[{"selector":"#anim-6ef04a09-52ce-4c54-b9ef-e22d701b0ce0 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-27.44775528111051%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] His epic residency in San Juan drew hundreds of thousands.

[{"selector":"#anim-66f1047c-7c20-45c7-a77e-3af7e63e244c [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-26.666009322132645%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] Bad Bunny’s “No Me Quiero Ir de Aquí” wasn’t a tour — it was a cultural event on his home turf.

[{"selector":"#anim-46ea89a3-4967-48c8-b078-eda349a02342 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-19.895186152728876%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] Fans from Florida to Colombia flew in to see him live where it all began: Puerto Rico.

[{"selector":"#anim-cf6075e0-2b89-4b77-8d34-1cd43b7771a4 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-19.77437740995309%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] It was more than a concert — it was an immersive experience in Bad Bunny’s world

[{"selector":"#anim-73ee64b8-a7f1-4c5a-a32b-5f7c5b031436 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-26.423988970472006%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] Water shortages, housing crises, and gentrification make mass tourism a risky bet for Puerto Rico.

[{"selector":"#anim-1b3a6a2e-8090-4c3a-a271-74033e236e1f [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-15.982142650723816%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] Experts say only 20% of tourist dollars stay on the island. Foreign companies take the rest.

[{"selector":"#anim-cb967b81-4ee1-46c9-9502-7c9229c6294c [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-30.711062717180077%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] Visitors chose short-term rentals over hotels, driving up prices and displacing locals in popular areas.

[{"selector":"#anim-1d74d1c8-a0f0-4676-981b-9d7a560c730d [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-31.526315677376083%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] Ironically, his concerts triggered the very thing he warns about.

[{"selector":"#anim-b82a47b0-a63e-4341-81f0-bd24e1ac3c90 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-25.619904743366885%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] Brands like T-Mobile & Wendy’s tried to "Puerto Rico-fy" themselves at the shows

[{"selector":"#anim-a591ae9f-96b2-4b34-8164-6bb0740faaa5 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-26.11892568629262%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] A 3-hour spectacle of reggaeton, salsa, and pride. Ivy Queen, Los Pleneros, and more joined the stage

[{"selector":"#anim-8099be38-346d-4c4b-903a-10e8dcbc691a [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-30.226528264294817%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] Critics say this isn’t about Bad Bunny anymore… It’s about what we do with the energy he created.