Puerto Rican rapper Bad Bunny is being sued for at least $40 million by his ex-girlfriend, Carliz De La Cruz Hernández. Basically, he used a well-known voice recording she provided before he became famous without her consent. The recording features the phrase “Bad Bunny, baby” and was included in two of his songs.
The lawsuit alleges that De La Cruz’s “distinguishable voice” has been used without her permission for songs, records, promotions, worldwide concerts, television, radio, and social and musical platforms. The suit claims that this unauthorized use has caused De La Cruz to feel worried, anguished, intimidated, overwhelmed, and anxious. Noah Kamil Assad Byrne, Bad Bunny’s manager, is also named in the lawsuit.
De La Cruz and Bad Bunny whose real name is Benito Martínez Ocasio first became a couple in 2011 and attended the University of Puerto Rico together.
During this time, Martínez was constantly creating songs and rhythms and would seek opinions from De La Cruz. She also helped schedule his parties and handle invoices and contracts. In 2015, Martínez asked De La Cruz to record herself saying “Bad Bunny, baby”. She did so in a bathroom one day while staying with a friend.
Martínez signed with Rimas Entertainment in 2016. This was around the same time that De La Cruz began attending law school and ended her relationship with him. They briefly got back together in 2017 but then went their separate ways again. In May 2022, a Bad Bunny representative contacted De La Cruz, offering her $2,000 to buy the recording of her voice.
De La Cruz declined and then spoke with someone at Rimas Entertainment who also offered to buy it. The person claimed that the recording would be used in the upcoming album, “Un Verano Sin Ti.” However, a deal was never reached and the song was published without De La Cruz’s consent.
cc: BBC News
