The woman behind 'Bad Bunny, baby' achieves an important judicial breakthrough

Puerto Rico's Supreme Court has granted Carliz De La Cruz Hernández, an ex-girlfriend of global music star Bad Bunny, a significant legal opening in her lawsuit over the unauthorized use of her voice. The court ruled that De La Cruz has presented sufficient facts to pursue her claim regarding the famous phrase "Bad Bunny, baby," which she recorded in 2015.

The audio clip, where De La Cruz utters the phrase, was sent to Benito Martínez (Bad Bunny) at his request. While the Supreme Court determined that claims related to the song "Pa ti," released in 2016, were time-barred, the case will proceed concerning its use in the song "Dos Mil 16," released in 2022, and subsequent concert performances. De La Cruz is seeking $40 million in damages.

De La Cruz, a lawyer by profession, met Bad Bunny in 2011 while they both worked at a supermarket in Vega Baja, Puerto Rico. They maintained an intermittent relationship until 2016. She claims that Bad Bunny's representatives attempted to settle the matter by offering her $2,000 for the audio before the song's release, an offer she rejected, and she did not authorize its commercial use.

Despite her refusal, her voice was allegedly used without permission in concerts and promotional campaigns. This situation has reportedly led De La Cruz to require psychological assistance. The Supreme Court's decision does not mean De La Cruz has won the case but rather that her claim has enough merit to be re-evaluated by the Court of First Instance in San Juan, focusing on the alleged violation of her moral rights as an artist.