Why is Bad Bunny being sued again? Everything to know about the $16 million lawsuit ahead of the Super Bowl

Bad Bunny is facing another major legal challenge, this time over a voice recording that a woman claims was used in his music without her permission. The lawsuit adds to growing scrutiny around how personal recordings have appeared in the global superstar’s songs, raising fresh questions about consent and ownership in the music industry.

The Latin rapper, whose real name is Benito Martínez Ocasio, was hit with the lawsuit in Puerto Rico on Monday, January 5. The case was filed on behalf of Tainaly Y. Serrano Rivera and has been reported by Rolling Stone and Billboard.

According to the lawsuit, Rivera alleges that her voice was used without consent in two Bad Bunny songs released years apart. She claims her voice appears in “Solo de Mi” from Bad Bunny’s 2018 album X100pre and again in “EoO” from his 2025 album Debí Tirar Más Fotos.

In the recording at the centre of the case, Rivera can be heard saying, “Mira, puñeta, no me quiten el perrero,” which roughly translates to, “Listen, damn it, don’t take away my vibe.” Rivera claims the phrase has since become strongly linked to Bad Bunny’s public image.

Rivera states in court documents that Bad Bunny’s long-time producer, La Paciencia, whose real name is Roberto Rosado, asked her to record the line in 2018. She claims she never signed any contract and was never told the recording would be used for commercial purposes.

According to the lawsuit, Rivera says she did not agree to her voice being used in songs, concerts, or merchandise. She also alleges that she was not informed that the recording could be reused years later on another album.

Rivera is seeking $16 million in damages from Bad Bunny and his record label, Rimas Entertainment. The lawsuit alleges violations of her privacy and publicity rights, as reported by Rolling Stone and Billboard.

She claims the phrase has been played during Bad Bunny’s concerts and used to sell merchandise, making it a key part of his brand without her permission. Both Bad Bunny and Rimas Entertainment have been ordered to appear in court in May to respond to the request for damages.

This lawsuit is not the first time Bad Bunny has faced legal trouble over alleged unauthorised voice use. Nearly three years ago, he was sued by his ex-girlfriend, Carliz de La Cruz Hernández, for $40 million. Hernández claims she came up with the phrase “Bad Bunny, baby”, which appears in the songs “Pa Ti” and “Dos Mil 16”. That case remains ongoing.

Rivera is being represented by the same attorneys as Hernández: Jose Marxuach Fagot and Joanna Bocanegra. The shared legal team adds another layer of connection between the two cases, which both focus on voice recordings allegedly used without consent.