Mia Khalifa Applauds Bad Bunny’s Political Statement in “NUEVAYoL” Music Video: “Art Without a Message is Just Propaganda”

Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience.Generate Key Takeaways

The Statue of Liberty may never have looked more rebellious than it did on the Fourth of July, draped in a Puerto Rican flag, saluted by Bad Bunny, and backed by a faux Donald Trump voice apologizing to immigrants. But for Mia Khalifa, this was more than just provocative imagery. It was proof of what true artistry looks like.

The model and media personality, known for her outspoken political views, took to X (formerly Twitter) to praise Bad Bunny’s latest music video “NUEVAYoL,” a striking, politically charged short film released on U.S. Independence Day. Khalifa used the occasion to issue a broader call to arms for all artists, declaring that art without political or social commentary is nothing more than a “puppet for consumerism.”

“Vibes and a Hook Are Not a Message”

Khalifa’s remarks came in response to a tweet by a user named Penelope, who wrote:

“bad bunny releasing ‘NUEVAYoL’ on US independence day with a PR flag on the statue of liberty highlighting the immigrant community is pure cinema

����

”

To which Khalifa replied:

“as an artist, if you’re not using your platform to make political statements, then you’re an unwitting propaganda tool. artists make impact, illicit change, and spread a message. vibes and a hook are not a message, they’re a distraction that helps the regimes.”

Her statement lit up social media, igniting a spirited debate about the role of artists and public figures in times of political turmoil.

AdvertisementAdvertisement#«R29ekkr8lb2m7nfddbH1» iframe AdvertisementAdvertisement#«R49ekkr8lb2m7nfddbH1» iframe

Rosanna Ford, another user, weighed in:

“I don’t think celebrities necessarily need to be political activists, but I do appreciate when they give back in some way… Dolly Parton isn’t a big, controversial activist, but she has causes that she believes in and uses her wealth and influence to further those causes. That’s lovely. You don’t need to be a political lightning rod to make a difference in the world.”

Khalifa responded with a powerful clarification:

“exactly, It’s not just about political activism, an artist should stand for something, ANYTHING. what is art if not commentary on life through different mediums. How can you sing about sex w/o standing for sexual rights. How can you sing about the streets without standing for social changes in affected communities. You’re not an artist if you’re not moved by or stand for something. You’re a mouthpiece and a puppet for consumerism”

Bad Bunny’s Bold Visual Protest

Bad Bunny, born Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, dropped the video for “NUEVAYoL,” a track from his latest albumDebí Tirar Más Fotos, on Friday, July 4. Directed by Renell Medrano, the music video is drenched in retro aesthetics but charged with timely political commentary.

The video opens on a nostalgic quinceañera before shifting sharply to scenes of the Puerto Rican superstar saluting from the Statue of Liberty, now draped in a Puerto Rican flag. Moments later, a group of men gather around a boombox playing a fake voice that sounds suspiciously like former President Donald Trump.

“I made a mistake,” the voice says. “I want to apologize to the immigrants in America. I mean the United States. I know America is the whole continent.”

“This country is nothing without the immigrants. This country is nothing without Mexicans, Dominicans, Puerto Ricans, Colombians, Venezuelans, Cubans.”

AdvertisementAdvertisement#«R2jekkr8lb2m7nfddbH1» iframe AdvertisementAdvertisement#«R4jekkr8lb2m7nfddbH1» iframe

As soon as the apology finishes, the men casually shut the boombox off and walk away. The closing scenes depict members of the Puerto Rican diaspora in New York, some shots in black and white, culminating in the onscreen message:“juntos somos más fuertes” (together we are stronger).

The Trump Connection: A Not-So-Subtle Rebuke

The timing of Bad Bunny’s release wasn’t random. Just days earlier, on July 1, Donald Trump toured a controversial new I.C.E. detention facility dubbed“Alligator Alcatraz”in the Florida Everglades. An ominous, rapidly constructed compound, the site was designed to hold up to 5,000 detainees, featuring chain-link enclosures and bunk beds, surrounded by natural wildlife.

“You don’t always have land so beautiful and so secure [with] a lot of bodyguards and a lot of cops in the form of alligators that you don’t have to pay them so much,” Trump quipped to reporters.

While many politicians remained silent on the implications of such a facility, Bad Bunny delivered his verdict through art, using satire, symbolism, and spectacle.

A History of Speaking Out

This isn’t Bad Bunny’s first time using his platform for political expression.

AdvertisementAdvertisement#«R2sekkr8lb2m7nfddbH1» iframe AdvertisementAdvertisement#«R4sekkr8lb2m7nfddbH1» iframe

Last October, when comedian Tony Hinchcliffe derided Puerto Rico as a “floating island of garbage” during a Trump rally at Madison Square Garden, Bad Bunny clapped back with an eight-minute visual poem titled“Garbage”. An unreleased video previously shown only at his 2021 concerts in Puerto Rico, the footage praised Puerto Rico’s athletic legends and cultural contributions, describing the island as “the definition of heart and resistance.”

In a January 2025 interview withRolling Stone, the artist addressed the backlash he sometimes receives for speaking out:

“People are used to artists getting big and mainstream and not expressing themselves about these things, or if they do, talking about it in a super careful way,” he said. “But I’m going to talk, and whoever doesn’t like it doesn’t have to listen to me.”

Art vs. Apathy: Khalifa and Bad Bunny Sound the Alarm

Khalifa’s comments tap into a deeper cultural conversation about celebrity responsibility. While some argue that not every artist should be expected to take political stances, Khalifa and Bad Bunny seem to agree on one central point: silence isn’t neutral. It’s complicit.

In an industry where many stars remain apolitical to protect commercial interests, Bad Bunny’s release and Khalifa’s vocal support feel like a challenge to the status quo. They are demanding that those with influence do more than entertain. They must, as Khalifa put it,stand for something.

AdvertisementAdvertisement#«R33ekkr8lb2m7nfddbH1» iframe AdvertisementAdvertisement#«R53ekkr8lb2m7nfddbH1» iframe

As “NUEVAYoL” racks up millions of views and debates rage on social media, one thing is clear: art with a message can’t be ignored. And this message roars louder than fireworks.

The post Mia Khalifa Applauds Bad Bunny’s Political Statement in “NUEVAYoL” Music Video: “Art Without a Message is Just Propaganda” appeared first on Where Is The Buzz | Breaking News, Entertainment, Exclusive Interviews & More.