Bad Bunny’s ex-girlfriend is suing the Latin music superstar for at least $40 million over a voice recording that she provided to him before he became famous. Carliz De La Cruz Hernández, whose breathy “Bad Bunny, baby” recording was included in two of the artist’s songs, claims that her voice and the phrase she came up with are being used without her permission. The lawsuit, which was filed in a Puerto Rico court, notes that the phrase was used in the hit song “Pa Ti,” which has over 355 million views on YouTube and over 235 million reproductions on Spotify. It was also used in the song “Dos Mil 16,” which has over 60 million views on YouTube and 280 million reproductions on Spotify.
De La Cruz’s “distinguishable voice” has allegedly been used without her consent for songs, records, promotions, worldwide concerts, television, radio, and social and musical platforms. This has caused De La Cruz to feel worried, anguished, intimidated, overwhelmed, and anxious, according to the lawsuit. Also named in the lawsuit is Noah Kamil Assad Byrne, Bad Bunny’s manager.
De La Cruz and Bad Bunny, whose real name is Benito Martínez Ocasio, first became a couple in 2011. During that time, Martínez would seek opinions from De La Cruz, who also managed his parties and handled invoices and contracts. In 2015, Martínez asked De La Cruz to record herself saying “Bad Bunny, baby.” She did so in a bathroom and sent it to him. In April 2016, Rimas Entertainment signed Martínez, and De La Cruz ended her relationship with him in May 2016. They got back together in 2017 but once again went their separate ways.
In May 2022, a Bad Bunny representative reached out to De La Cruz, offering her $2,000 to buy the recording of her voice. De La Cruz declined and spoke with someone at Rimas Entertainment, who also offered to buy it, saying the recording would be used in the upcoming album “Un Verano Sin Ti.” However, a deal was never reached, and the song was published without De La Cruz’s consent, according to the lawsuit. Representatives for Assad and Bad Bunny have not yet commented on the matter.
