Ricky Martin. Photo: Instagram
In a powerful display of Boricua brotherhood, global icon Ricky Martin recently published a stirring open letter to Bad Bunny (Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio) in the prominent Puerto Rican daily El Nuevo Día.
Titled “When One of Ours Succeeds, We All Succeed” (“Cuando uno de los nuestros triunfa, triunfamos todos”), the letter serves as both a high-level endorsement and a deeply personal tribute to the younger superstar’s impact on global culture.
Martin emphasizes that Bad Bunny’s astronomical success isn’t just a personal win, but a victory for the entire Puerto Rican diaspora. He praises Benito for remaining unapologetically himself – maintaining his accent, his style, and his island roots – while conquering the global charts.
As the man who paved the way during the “Latin Explosion” of the late ’90s, Martin writes with the perspective of an elder statesman. He acknowledges the “fearless” way Bad Bunny navigates his platform, particularly his advocacy for social justice and LGBTQ+ visibility.
The letter highlights the “Boricua spirit” – a mix of resilience and joy – that connects generations of artists. Martin’s tone is one of profound pride, noting that seeing “one of ours” reach such heights provides a sense of collective empowerment for the whole community.
This public exchange is more than just a celebrity shout-out; it represents a symbolic passing of the torch. Ricky Martin broke down the initial doors of the US mainstream, and he is now celebrating Bad Bunny for completely reimagining what a global Latin superstar looks like in 2026 – one who doesn’t need to “cross over” because the world has crossed over to him.
