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Essentials Inside The Story

  • Jake Paul walks back his call to boycott the Super Bowl halftime show after facing immediate backlash online.
  • Paul issues multiple clarifications following his comments aimed at Bad Bunny, which appear to cross a line.
  • Even a close family member publicly distances himself as the fallout continues to grow.

Jake Paul will now think twice before getting too political with his tweets. His politically charged call to boycott the Super Bowl LX halftime show yesterday quickly backfired, forcing the YouTuber-turned-boxer into a swift retreat after his remarks targeting performer Bad Bunny sparked widespread backlash.

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Paul dominated headlines on Sunday during the Super Bowl LX halftime show, which featured the Puerto Rican rapper and singer. The controversy stemmed from Bad Bunny’s past criticism of the Donald Trump administration and ICE over immigration policies and enforcement tactics, including mass deportations—comments that had already drawn strong reactions from across the political spectrum.

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While many led a charge against the NFL’s decision to have Bad Bunny on, Jake Paul’s response to it was especially pointed. “Purposefully turning off the halftime show,” he wrote as the halftime show began. He urged his fans to “turn off” their television to protest the NFL’s decision to involve Bunny, calling the rapper “a fake American.” That was enough to incur the wrath of many who felt Paul was calling Bad Bunny a fake American over his Puerto Rican roots. But sadly, he didn’t stop there.

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Paul himself has lived in Puerto Rico since 2021 and has even earned the nickname ‘El Gallo de Dorado,’ which translates to ‘The Rooster of Dorado.’ You can see how this would become a problem for ‘The Problem Child.’ Yet, he doubled down in a following tweet. “The problem with my tweet is the word fake being misinterpreted,” Paul wrote.

“He’s not a fake citizen obviously bc hes Puerto Rican, and I love Puerto Rico and all Americans who support the country,” Paul added. “Moreso Bunny is fake bc of his values and criticism of our great country.” However, this explanation didn’t work as Jake Paul continued to receive backlash for the post. So, he offered yet another clarification, which only made matters worse.

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“To clarify: I wasn’t calling anyone a ‘fake citizen’ because they’re from Puerto Rico,” Paul wrote. “I live in Puerto Rico, and I love Puerto Rico. I have used my platform to support Puerto Rico time and time again and will always do so. But if you’re publicly criticizing ICE, who are doing their job and openly hating on America, I’m going to speak on it.”

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He also explained that Bunny was benefiting from the platform America had given him, but continues to publicly criticize it, which had led him to call Bad Bunny a “fake citizen.” But the backlash only grew following the clarification. Once this too had failed to quiet the controversy, Paul made a last-ditch attempt to defuse the situation, writing on X, “Guys, I love Bad Bunny, idk what happened on my Twitter last night ?? wtf.”

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Among the many voices who criticized Paul for his comments on Bad Bunny, there was an unlikely name.

Logan Paul abandons his brother Jake Paul

While walking the red carpet at the Fanatics Super Bowl Party, a reporter from Fox News Digital approached Logan to ask whether he was excited about Bad Bunny’s performance at the Super Bowl LX halftime show. Paul responded with a quick and blunt “No!”

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However, after he saw his younger brother receive backlash for his tweets, Logan Paul started defending Bunny while distancing himself from his brother’s words. “I love my brother, but I don’t agree with this,” Logan Paul wrote on X, responding to his brother’s tweet. “Puerto Ricans are Americans & I’m happy they were given the opportunity to showcase the talent that comes from the island.”And he wasn’t alone either.

U.S. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez also spoke out against Jake Paul. “A ‘fake American citizen?’” she wrote on X. “Didn’t you MOVE to Puerto Rico to avoid paying your taxes while kids across America go hungry? Meanwhile, Benito actually funds low-income kids’ access to arts and sports programs, while you defund them.”

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It appears Jake Paul has had enough of the controversy, as he has stopped tweeting about it. It’s yet to be seen how his hometown reacts when he tries to host one of his boxing matches in the area. What did you make of all this?

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Written by

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Sudeep Sinha

4,195 Articles

Sudeep Sinha is a Senior Boxing Writer at EssentiallySports with over two years of experience covering the science at the ES RingSide Desk. Known for sharp fight-night coverage and detailed analysis, Sudeep has become one of the desk’s leading boxing minds. His work has been featured on major platforms such as Sports Illustrated, Daily Mail, and Yahoo Sports, where he covers everything from amateur boxing developments to high-profile controversies like Ryan Garcia career arc. Sudeep balances his professional writing career with a personal passion for reading, cycling, and lively debates about boxing match-ups and trends on social media. He takes pride in delivering engaging stories that resonate with both hardcore boxing enthusiasts and casual fans alike, providing clear insights into fighter strategies, training, and the evolving dynamics of the sport.

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Gokul Pillai

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