Sunday Sitdown with Willie Geist - Bad Bunny on Fame, Acting, and His Puerto Rico Roots

Episode Date: January 18, 2026

Grammy Award winning global music superstar Bad Bunny has become one of the most influential artists in the world, reshaping Latin music while breaking records on stages across the globe. In this conversation from August 2025, Bad Bunny sits down with Willie Geist to discuss bringing his historic concert residency to Puerto Rico, stepping into acting with projects like Caught Stealing and Happy Gilmore 2, and how his ambitions have evolved alongside his fame. Plus, he opens up about the origin of his stage name and why staying connected to home continues to ground everything he does. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Hey guys, Willie Geist here with another episode of the Sunday Sit Down podcast. My thanks, as always, for clicking and listening along. Got a huge one for you this week, if you don't mind my saying. He is one of the biggest acts in all of music around the world and, frankly, one of the most famous people on the planet. He is Bad Bunny. Birth name Benito Antonio Martinez Ocasio. He comes from Puerto Rico, about 30 miles west of San Juan, grew up with all kinds of musical influences that you now see in his music from salsa and meringuei and reggaeton but then also like

the bgis and hip-hop with tupac and everybody else and he kind of absorbed all that and created the sound that has become huge around the world for him um we got together to talk about yes his music uh including this incredible residency he's in the middle of in his home in san juan in porto rico 30 shows over the course of a summer, all sold out arena shows. Hundreds of thousands of people flocking to Puerto Rico to see the shows by estimates between $200 and $400 million coming into the island because of it. And it's really all just a big love letter to Puerto Rico. You might have seen some of his celebrity buddies, John Hamm, most notably, if you haven't seen it, look it up, going down to San Juan to see the shows and just really feeling it in a bucket hat and a floral shirt.

go into town because who can't, who can resist the sounds of Bad Bunny. So we talk a lot about Puerto Rico, talk about his career, how he started, how it got off the ground. We talk about the genesis of his stage name, Bad Bunny. He took it as a kid and now he's got it. Also, though, this turn this summer really into acting. He was in Happy Gilmore II, kind of stole the movie a little bit. And now a more serious role in the Darren Aronofsky film Caught Stealing. It's got Austin Butler in it. Zoe Kravitz, is in it, Leav, Schreiber, Vincent Dinoffro, an incredible cast, and he's right there among them. So the music career is what it is, biggest star maybe in the world right now, Taylor Swift, notwithstanding. But also now he's carving out this other lane for himself in acting.

He's been great on S&L. You've probably seen him. He's kind of shown up in these different places is where you go, oh, that guy I know from music is also really good at a bunch of other things. So really fun to sit down and talk to him. Quick setting of the scene. We are on kind of a roof deck in Hudson Yards on the west side of Manhattan and New York City. Sitting outside, you know, Benito, as he likes to be called, walks in in a, it's summer, as you may know, and he's wearing a full-length leather trench coat and just immediately winning the fashion contest. not that there really ever was a contest. He's a cool guy, really smart guy, fun to talk to.

So I'll get out of the way, let you sit back, relax, and enjoy, yeah, bad bunny right now on the Sunday Sit Down podcast. Benito, so good to see you. Thanks for doing this. Thank you. We were just talking about caught stealing, this amazing movie you're in, which I watched this morning. And to watch that movie at 9 o'clock in the morning is quite a wake-up call. How you feel? I'm still recovering. I'm still recovering. Tell me about your character, Colorado, and what you love about him. Well, the most that I love about him is he's Puerto Rican and is the first Perican role that I, that I, that I, that I have on this journey, on acting. So that was my first, oh, finally, because. I love to make, like, every role and represent the Latino community as Mexican or whichever country I have to make. But the fact that I'm doing a Puerto Rican role for the first time is so cool.

And only a Puerto Rican role is a Puerto Rican in New York. So that's more special even. What I can say about Colorado, he's a tough guy. He's good on business. He's smart. Well, he's smart. And he's just trying to win, you know? Yeah.

to, to, uh, hosial, like Siamonosodro, hustling in, in, in, in, in streets and the clubs. Um, and he's, is, is a real passionate. Yeah. Guy. I think he, he, he, he, he wants to make, he love to give the best every time. So, yeah, it's very interesting. This is a big time movie. Great director, Darren Aronovsky.

Austin Butler, Zoe Kravitz, Liev Schreiber, Vincent Donoffru, amazing cast, full of action. I know you've been enjoying acting a little bit more lately. How did this role come to you? Did Darren give you a call and say, I'm thinking of you for something?

Yes. I never ask too much how the roles end to me, but the thing that I know is the I'm very grateful about this opportunity. I'm very grateful with Derem for trust on me. I know he did his research and he has, like, people that I know, like,

should I give him this role, what should think? I'm scared. Yeah. And I was, I told him, like, I was 100%. 100% sure that he wanted the best for the movie and he never was going to let me do a bad thing, you know? Yeah. He pushed me to give my best and that's something that I really appreciate, especially because I want to keep growing and learning. on this industry.

So, yeah, it was a beautiful thing, the way that everything became. The world knows what a great performer you are, but this is a totally different kind of performance on a movie set. Was it nerve-wracking at first? Was it thrilling? What did it feel like to first step into the role? I'm always, I could say that I was. a little nerve because I know I knew the the important of this movie also worked with Darren

and with Austin on the same scene that he was insane like a great actor and he did like a great job and he was like okay I need to be the I can't I don't have to say in English but I I, I, I, no I, I, I, I, I don't to represental. Like, I have to,

to show what I can do. And also, I need to, to, to, to make this work for everyone. Like, all people in this room are like huge actors and

huge people on this, so I have to do my best to be at their level. And that was my mindset, you know. Just give my best not only for me, also for them. It's about respect their job, their work. You know what I mean?

Well, you definitely earned it. You fit right into that cast. You did so well and all the other actors. And Darren have said the same about you. Hey, guys, thanks for listening to the Sunday Sit Down podcast. Stick around to hear more from Bad Bunny right after the break. Welcome back now more, my conversation with Bad Bunny. What is the joy you get from acting that's different from walking into a football stadium and seeing 50,000 people screaming for you?

How is it different for you as a performer? I think it's something that is, of course, when I'm performing in a stadium, everyone is watching me. when you are in a movie set you know that they're gonna watch me but not yet it's a thing like it's very personal I think it's like me

and the actors and sometimes you know that there's a camera but something you forget about that and I think that's when you really get into the role and get into the scene and get into the story So I think that's the part that I really like. That part and where you really forget about maybe the reality of the world or of even your life and you are different whole story in a different world, living another life.

You know, people sometimes dreams, dream we would have another life or something. So that's the closest thing to live another life or be another person, but always bringing something about you or, you know, expressing something that maybe you can't do it on a normal day, be yourself. So it's something Yeah It's rare, but it's good. Yeah, it's been fun to watch you The last couple of years

Perform in different ways. I was just saying how good you are on Saturday Night Live. All these sketches that they put you in And the digital shorts are so funny. You're great when you go on Fallon. You were sort of the talk of Happy Gilmore too. Ever said, did you see Bad Bunny in Happy Gilmore too?

Taylor Swift said it was her favorite part of the movie. This feels like you're making an effort to flex that muscle a little bit too. Is that something you want to do more of in terms of acting? For sure. It's something that I, since I was a kid, I really liked to act. And it was part of one of my dreams. Of course, the music is my first love, is what I love the most.

But acting also is something that I really loved. and it was on my life plan. Like, someday I want to act. And now that I'm having these opportunities and I'm just embracing it and enjoying and learning because that's the most important thing. I want to learn, keep learning and go step by step. and take every opportunity.

It's not like I just want to be, you know, the biggest movie sorrow. Right. I want to leave my process. I don't want everything just because I'm Bad Bunny and I'm on this music star. No, I want to earn every, every thing on the, on the acting world. This movie feels like a good step in that direction. You're not the guy on the poster of the head,

but you're a central important part of the movie and you prove yourself there. Yes, that's what I'm talking about. And I feel proud about my work. I feel proud about what I did. And I feel really proud about to be on this movie is definitely a huge step on my career. You should be proud, and we're not going to say because we want people to watch the movie, all the crazy stuff that happens to Colorado. It gets weird fast, but you have to watch the movie to find out.

You have to watch the movie because that Colorado story is very interesting. So you're taking a break, and we're so grateful you're here with us because you're spending your weekends on this incredible residency down in San Juan in Puerto Rico where you're doing, I think, 30. 30 shows. And all in the same arena, sold out immediately. I was looking at some of the figures about how many tickets were sold, that you're bringing like $250 million to the economy of Puerto Rico. What a special thing for you as a son of Puerto Rico to get to feel that love and to show the love with that show?

This is so far my best experience in music, maybe in life. is something that I never seen before. I've been doing this for the last 10 years. I had so many great shows around the world, even in Puerto Rico before. But what is happening right now in someone in that arena is something magical. I swear it's something that I never felt before

there's a feeling that I can even explain. It's like everyone love each other. Everyone is like a big family, just having fun, singing, dancing, crying. And I'm very, I'm very grateful. I'm very happy. I'm very not

just with all the boricua but with everyone that is coming to the island around the world is such a pleasure to show my culture

my country, my land right there in my house like be with my family every night sleep at home

every night that's nice too That's beautiful. I don't have to take planes. Ah, now we see your favorite part of it. Yeah, that's my favorite part, definitely. And of course, when we were working on it, we was like, we knew that it was going to be great, but it's even greater. It is bigger than we thought. And you have put the eyes of the world onto Puerto Rico, to show all the beauty of Puerto Rico, but also to talk about some of the of its challenges.

What do you want to say in this show and beyond about Puerto Rico? What should the world know? What's the story you're telling with that show? When people go to the show, it's a unique show because there's everything on it. You can learn. You can dance. You can express your feelings. You can, as I say, there's people dancing, singing, crying, hugging, crying, hugging each other.

we show the best of Puerto Rico and also the toughest or delicate things about Puerto Rico also. And I think that's the beautiful of this show. That is a very powerful and honest. I think is honest is the word for this show. And it can feel it since the beginning to the end. Talk about all the people coming from around the world to the show. That includes one John Hamm. Have you seen the videos?

No, I didn't see the video. I saw him there. On the casita, probably he was lead. He had fun. I'm happy that he, He went and he have fun. It's impossible not to have fun at that show. It's impossible.

It's impossible. And it must be an amazing feeling as a guy who obviously was born and raised, what, 30 miles west of San Juan, to be the one who gets to tell the story of the island. So I'm curious, going back to your early days, I know you sang in your church. You were a fan of all different kinds of music listening to your mom's CDs from, like, the BGs to Tupac. and everything in between. What were your big musical influences as you were growing up? Who did you love to listen to? There's a lot.

I always say, like, it's really hard to mention just one name. Because as you just said, I grew up, listened to a lot of, like, salsa. my dad he always was listening to salsa music you know Hector Lavaux Frankie Rui

Maher Rivera Ruben Bale this the Grand Combo La Sonora Ponceña Roberto Ruehraena there's a lot of really

great artists and just that's just a couple ones because there's so many that I grew up listened to and my mind is to listen a lot of

Merengue, that's from Dominican Republic, ballada, of much artista, even of Mexico, like Juan Gabriel, in Kansas, I was heard much

Juan Gabriel. And then, of course, I born on 1994, so I'm a Y2K boy. So I grew up

listening to reggaeton. So, of course, I have to mention Teoh Calderon, Daddy Yankee, Don Omar, Wissie Yandel, Bikosi. So. It's a lot. And it's all different genres, right?

Yeah, because I born in this island that there's so much artists and musical culture that is like impossible. There's a lot of influence. It's just on my blood, like in my mind, in my mind, ain't myself. And you can hear it in your music, all these different bits of music you grew up with. Stick around for more of my conversation with Bad Bunny right after a quick break. Welcome back now to the rest of my conversation with Bad Bunny. At what point, Benito, did you decide you wanted a life in music? It's one thing to be a fan of music and to listen like most of us are.

But when did you decide I'm going to be a professional musician? I'm going to become an artist. Well, I think I took that decision when I was seven. Seven. Wow. Well, I was thinking on that the other day because I remember I told this story before. The first album that I got was B.C.C. That's like an OG legend rapper of Puerto Rico. and that was the first time that I listened to rap music and urban music,

and I liked it. Then I think the first time that I listened to Tego Calderon, there's another OG legend from Puerto Rico, I think it is when I said, I don't know, when I'm big, I want to be, you know what I grew up, I want to be like this, I want to, I want to, I want to, to sing. I want to be a rapper. I want to be an artist. And since 12, I start to make beats, write songs, practicing every day, every day of my life. And I think when I turned 20,

I think, when I said, I should start to, you know, to take it serious. If I want to make it, you know, if I want to make it, I need to start to work on it and put my music on social media on the internet to show to the people. And that's what I did. I started to work when I was 20 and then my life changed when I turned 22. 22 years old. 22, yeah. I mean, it just exploded from there, right? You went from, you're working at that supermarket.

Which probably doesn't feel that long ago to you. Yeah. So all of a sudden, you're a household name. Everyone in the world knows who you are. It's crazy. How have you adjusted to that? It's been a long journey. It was, I'm still learning a lot.

I'm still working on it. But at the very beginning, it was hard. And I could say, it wasn't that hard because I was very focused on my thing, but then is when you realize that everything changed and you say, oh, shit, how I'm here now. So that's the part that you need to be tough. And I'm very grateful about what I learned at home with my parents.

And I'm very grateful about the people that is around me, my friends, my family, my team, that they are, they've been very, very important to me and special to survive and learn and grew up on this world and accept the reality of my life. And I think, I could say that right now I'm, I feel great. I'm very happy about what I have done so far. And I have a lot of goals and more dreams to, to make. That's, that's for sure. Given where you came from, when you walk out on that stage this weekend in San Juan, and there's another sold-out crowd. And you're viewed in many ways as the face of Puerto Rico.

Do you ever stop and think about the little boy who was just going through his mom's CDs, dreaming of being a musician? Do you have that moment? Yeah, sometimes we talk about it, especially with my mom. I think that's the beautiful thing. Like, enjoy what I'm doing now, but never forget where that dream starts. you know and and keep dreaming never stop sound like a very cliche

phrase but it's that's what it life about about have dreams even when you can make it at least try it and you know

put your energy on something that you really want to and give your best that does that's what life is about to me so when you think about that future you just said there's more you want to do

and you have a lot of roads still ahead of you in your career the acting is one thing you did some wrestling which is great what else do you see out there more in movies more in different areas

for sure I will love to do more acting and movies, but there's a lot of, there's another things that I would love to do.

I always, I never mention any of those things because I prefer to show up. We'll know when it happens. Yeah, but yeah, for sure. I'm still young. I have a lot. of, well, I hope I have a lot of time to do all that things. And the last thing before I let you go, for people who don't know the story behind the name

Bad Bunny, that was a childhood bunny costume, right? That was a picture of me when I was a kid. I was wearing a bunny costume. And it's funny because I always say that, I was mad that day on that picture. And I think that I, the picture that I always talk about it, I don't know where it is. Because I've been posting another one from that day,

but there's one that I'm smiling. There's another one that I was mad. That one, it was the purpose of my name. And then figuring out, you know, with my friends, like, bad bunny that I think is different how how how there's there's no bad bunnies I think even even a bad bunny is going to look like a good bunny so I don't know it fit perfect on me because I could be bad I could be good so yeah it's a big decision but you don't realize it when you're young that you're going to become one of the most famous people in the world.

And that's going to be your name forever, right? Insane. I never, I never thought of that. Yeah. Well, I appreciate you taking some time with us. Congratulations. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. As someone who's been going to Puerto Rico for 35 years, for all you do and the attention you bring to it. It's good. Thank you.

Appreciate it. My big thanks to Benito or Bad Bunny, if you like, for a great conversation. Just a really good guy, fun to talk with. My big thanks to all of you for listening again this week. If you want to hear more of our conversations with my guests every week, be sure to click follow so you never miss an episode. And don't forget to tune in to Sunday today every weekend on NBC to see these interviews with your own two eyes.

I'm Willie Geist. We'll see you right back here next week on the Sunday Sitdown podcast.