Get All Access for $5/mo

Bad Bunny Is Being Sued By an Ex for $40 Million for Allegedly Using a Voice Note in a Song Without Consent The Puerto Rican musician has been the most streamed artist on Spotify for the past three years.

By Emily Rella

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Getty Images
Bad Bunny at the Billboard Women in Music Awards

Bad Bunny, the most streamed artist on Spotify for 2020-2022, is being sued by his ex-girlfriend, who's accusing the musician of using audio recordings from voice notes that she left him on two of his hit songs.

The Puerto Rican rapper, whose government name is Benito Martínez Ocasio, is being sued by his ex-girlfriend Carliz De La Cruz Hernández in the court of Puerto Rico for allegedly using her catchphrase "Bad Bunny baby" in a voiceover sample on his 2017 song Pa Ti and last year's Dos Mil 16.

De La Cruz claims that she recorded the voice note several times before she sent over the recording to Ocasio who then sampled it on his Soundcloud (where users can stream music for free) before he hit it big in the mainstream.

Before the release of Bad Bunny's 2022 album Un Verano Sin Ti, De La Cruz alleges that she was offered $2,000 for the rights to the recording, which she did not accept, but the album was released with her voice anyway.

"This has caused, and currently causes, De La Cruz to feel worried, anguished, intimidated, overwhelmed and anxious," the lawsuit states, claiming that De La Cruz is often harassed by fans, foes, and users on social media (and in person) in reference to the voice recordings. "The situation for De La Cruz became unmanageable, to the point that she needed to contact multiple psychologists for help as soon as possible."

De La Cruz is currently seeking $40 million in compensation.

Bad Bunny's label Rimas Entertainment and his manager Noah Assad are also listed as defendants in the case. Ocasio's camp has not publicly commented on the lawsuit.

The allegations come at a historic time for the musician — he is set to be the first-ever Latin artist to headline Coachella in April.

According to Celebrity Net Worth, Bad Bunny is worth an estimated $40 million.

Emily Rella

Senior News Writer

Emily Rella is a Senior News Writer at Entrepreneur.com. Previously, she was an editor at Verizon Media. Her coverage spans features, business, lifestyle, tech, entertainment, and lifestyle. She is a 2015 graduate of Boston College and a Ridgefield, CT native. Find her on Twitter at @EmilyKRella.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Editor's Pick

Starting a Business

He Started a Business That Surpassed $100 Million in Under 3 Years: 'Consistent Revenue Right Out of the Gate'

Ryan Close, founder and CEO of Bartesian, had run a few small businesses on the side — but none of them excited him as much as the idea for a home cocktail machine.

Franchise

The Top 10 Coffee Franchises in 2024

From a classic cup of joe to a creamy latte, grab your favorite mug and get ready to brew up success with the best coffee franchises.

Business Ideas

63 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2024

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2024.

Marketing

How Small Businesses Can Leverage Dark Social to Drive Word-of-Mouth Marketing

Dark social accounts for 70% of social media shares and is crucial for small businesses. Here's how you can tap into this hidden marketing opportunity.

Business News

'Do You Sell Cars?': Tesla CEO Elon Musk Trolls Jaguar Rebrand on X

The team running Jaguar's X account was working hard on social media this week.

Business News

'Jaw-Dropping Performance in 2024,' Says a Senior Analyst as Nvidia Reports Earnings

Nvidia reported its highly-anticipated third-quarter earnings on Wednesday.