From a humble grocery bagger in rural Puerto Rico to a global icon, Bad Bunny has come a long way. Today, he’s a giant of the music industry who recently made history at the 2026 Grammy Awards. By winning Album of the Year for Debí Tirar Más Fotos, he became the first artist ever to take home the night’s biggest prize for an entirely Spanish-language project.

While his music often dominates the conversation, fans are increasingly curious about the man behind the glasses, especially his cultural roots. This story takes a dive into his ethnicity, religion, and nationality. 

Where is Bad Bunny from, and what is his nationality? 

Originally known as Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, Bad Bunny was born on March 10, 1994, making him 31 years old. His birthplace is San Juan, Puerto Rico, but he spent most of his childhood in the Almirante Sur barrio of Vega Baja, a quiet, rural town. 

Benito grew up in a stable, lower-middle-class household alongside his two younger brothers, Bernie and Bysael. After graduating from local high school in 2012, he enrolled in the University of Puerto Rico at Arecibo. At that time, all he wanted was to become a radio host; that’s why he studied audiovisual communications. Due to financial constraints, he worked as a cashier and bagger at an Econo supermarket. But his passion for music, which he had been following quietly since the age of 14, eventually pulled him away from the classroom. 

He left university before finishing his degree to pursue a career in the industry. Benito once shared that his stage name was inspired by a school photo where he was forced to dress as a bunny and looked visibly annoyed. Once he realized how big a marketing tool “Bad Bunny” was, he didn’t look back. 

Who are Bad Bunny Parents Lysaurie Ocasio and Tito Martínez? 

Benito was born as the eldest child to Lysaurie Ocasio and Tito Martínez. His mother, Lysaurie, was an English teacher, while his father, Tito, worked long hours as a truck driver to provide for the family.

Compared to the glitz of his current life, his childhood feels like a different lifetime. In a NY Post interview, he described his childhood as a “normal” one, filled with everyday conversations about “the light bill, the vieja on the corner who died, cancer diagnoses.”

Yet, above all, religion was a cornerstone of their household. His Catholic parents made sure their children were active in the church. Benito even served as an altar boy and participated in the children’s choir until he was 13. But not once did they stand in the way of Benito and his dreams. In fact, they were his biggest fans. 

“When I was little, and platforms didn’t exist, and there was no way to make a playlist, I found a way,” he told PEOPLE magazine in June 2023. “I would buy the CDs, and I would create playlists on the CDs, and I would collect different types of music.”

His music taste, too, is inspired by his parents. Vanity Fair reported that Bad Bunny’s decision to start sharing his own songs on SoundCloud in 2016 was a result of a combination of Latin trap, his mother’s interest in pop, his father’s favorite salsa and merengue rhythms. 

What is Bad Bunny’s ethnicity? 

Bad Bunny’s ethnicity is a reflection of the Puerto Rican identity, which is a rich tapestry of various lineages. Like many from the island, his background is a blend of Spanish colonial, African, and indigenous Taíno roots. While his appearance is often described as light-skinned or triracial, he frequently uses his platform to honour the Afro-Caribbean origins of reggaeton and Latin trap.

As for his nationality, he is a U.S. citizen, born in Puerto Rico (a fact not known to many). The rapper even pulled a witty joke about it at the 68th Annual Grammy Awards with host Trevor Noah that quickly went viral. 

During the exchange, Noah joked, “If things keep getting worse in America, can I come live with you in Puerto Rico?”

To which Benito delivered a quick reality check, responding, “Trevor, I have some news for you. Puerto Rico is part of America.”

Benito identifies strongly with his “Boricua” roots, often utilising Puerto Rican slang that even some Spanish speakers find unique to the island. Despite being a U.S. citizen by birth, he has expressed deep solidarity with immigrant communities. That’s part of the reason why many believed him to be an immigrant. 

Is Bad Bunny still catholic?

As a boy, Benito was deeply influenced by his mother’s love for gospel and salsa, but as he became an adult, his relationship with religion evolved quite a lot. He reportedly began distancing himself from institutional mass, believing “God is everywhere.”

But that doesn’t mean he thinks there is no higher power. ‘He has primarily opposed religious institutions. In “Baticano,” he called out what he perceives as hypocrisy regarding the shaming of sexuality within the church.

Through his journey from the church choir of Vega Baja to the 2026 Super Bowl Halftime stage, Bad Bunny has never lost touch with his family or his home. Whether he is singing in Spanish to millions or advocating for Puerto Rican rights, his heritage remains the true heart of everything he does.