Fox News host Tomi Lahren mistakenly said Bad Bunny isn't an American artist, accidentally revealing she didn't know Puerto Ricans are U.S. citizens.
The moment came during a Tuesday episode of her podcast, Tomi Lahren is Fearless, where the right-wing commentator interviewed progressive pundit Krystal Ball. During the discussion, Lahren dismissed the Puerto Rican superstar's upcoming Super Bowl Halftime Show appearance, saying, "He's not an American artist."
Ball quickly corrected her, "He's Puerto Rican… That's part of America, dear."
Lahren briefly faltered before recovering and shifting the topic to Bad Bunny's political stances. "Do you have any problems with his anti-ICE sentiments?" she asked. Ball replied, "America agrees with him on that."
The exchange went viral on social media, with users mocking Lahren for the blunder. CNN's Jake Tapper and political strategist Maria Cardona also weighed in on Friday, with Cardona quipping, "She needs to crack a book."
Lahren's gaffe arrives amid a new round of conservative outrage over the 31-year-old Puerto Rican artist performing at the Super Bowl. Critics have complained that Bad Bunny, born Benito Martínez Ocasio, often raps in Spanish and has previously voiced concern about touring in the U.S. due to ICE activity.
"There was the issue of like, fucking ICE could be outside [my concert]," Bad Bunny told i-D magazine, explaining that he wanted his fans to feel safe.
Despite his outspoken views, Bad Bunny is a U.S. citizen, as are all Puerto Ricans by birth. That fact didn't stop Lahren's comments from reigniting conversations about widespread misconceptions regarding Puerto Rico's status.
As Ball summed it up during their exchange: "I'm not that knowledgeable about him, but it seems fine, and I don't see why it's such a big deal. He seems like a great American artist."
