The Real Reason Bad Bunny Was Missing From The 2020 AMAs

The Latin Grammy Award-winning artist, Bad Bunny (aka Benito Martínez Ocasio) added two American Music Awards to his name last night: the Latin Male Artist Award and Latin Favorite Album award, for his album YHLQMDLG (Yo Hago Lo Que Me Da La Gana). He accepted both virtually. "Thank you to all my fans, to all the people who listen to me, who support me, and who always believe in my music, I do it for you," the Puerto Rican artist said, faced flushed, "Latinos are ruling the world. I love you."

And yet ... his acceptance speech had fans scratching their heads. Wasn't Bad Bunny supposed to accept it live? After all, the artist was supposed to have closed out the night, performing "Dakiti" alongside Jhay Cortez. An instant hit in the world of Latin music, "Dakiti" debuted in late October 2020 and topped Billboard's Hot Latin Songs chart without blinking an eye (via Billboard). It now tops Billboard's Global 200 Chart. 

"It was a combined effort, which is unusual for me, but when one works as a team, great things come out. It's been like a drug, literally. Everyone has gone crazy over 'Dakiti,'" Bad Bunny reflected on his success to Billboard. The American Music Awards should have been the first time that Cortez and Bad Bunny performed the song live. When he didn't, fans were so distressed that People wrote an article covering their (many and livid) Twitter reactions.

Like nearly 59 million people around the world Bad Bunny has tested positive for COVID-19, Billboard reported the morning after the American Music Awards. As of Monday, November 23, sources have confirmed to Billboard that the Puerto Rican star is "weathering the virus well." These reports match with what Bad Bunny's publicist, Sujeylee Solá told AP: Bad Bunny isn't, allegedly, "showing and major symptoms." Bad Bunny's colleagues, J Balvin and Prince Royce, have also come down with, and recovered, from COVID-19 (via Billboard). 

Since hearing the news of Bad Bunny's diagnosis, fans have taken over Twitter with their get well notes. "I'll be in the lab for the next 3 days finding a cure for Bad Bunny," tweeted one of his well-wishers. "I can't be the only one who cries over Bad Bunny," groaned another. "If COVID harms bad bunny I swear imma fight that b****," cursed a third. Bad Bunny himself hasn't tweeted since November 17, at the time of this writing. His publicist reports that the artist isn't currently giving interviews.