Bad Bunny and J Balvin Reunite onstage in Mexico City, Signaling End to Longstanding Rift
Bad Bunny and J Balvin publicly closed the chapter on one of Latin music’s most talked-about tensions Sunday night, reuniting onstage in Mexico City for the first time in four years. The appearance took place during the final stop of Bad Bunny’s Debí Tirar Más Fotos world tour at GNP Seguros Stadium, marking a symbolic reconciliation between two of the genre’s most influential figures.
Balvin emerged midway through the set to perform “La Canción,” the emotional centerpiece from their 2019 collaborative album Oasis. The Colombian superstar remained onstage for additional songs associated with their shared rise, including “Qué Pretendes,” “Si Tu Novio Te Deja Sola,” and “I Like It,” the latter performed without Cardi B. The moment drew a sustained ovation from the Mexico City crowd, underscoring both the cultural weight of the reunion and the significance of its timing.
The performance marked the duo’s first joint appearance since tensions became public following Bad Bunny’s 2023 track “Thunder y Lightning,” which many listeners interpreted as a pointed reference to Balvin. The line fueled speculation of a fractured relationship, ending years of visible camaraderie between two artists who had previously defined an era of global Latin pop.
Addressing the crowd in Spanish, Bad Bunny acknowledged the past directly, framing the reunion as the result of private conversations rather than a public spectacle. “I apologized a long time ago,” he said. “People don’t know, but we talked weeks ago. We were waiting for the right moment to share the stage again, and it felt right that it happened here in Mexico.”
Bad Bunny went on to recognize Balvin’s broader impact on Latin music, crediting him with helping push the urbano genre into the global mainstream. He noted Balvin’s role in opening doors not only for Colombian artists but for Latin performers across borders, calling his contributions foundational to the genre’s international success.
Balvin responded in kind, offering praise that emphasized mutual respect rather than rivalry. “I’m proud of Benito,” he told the audience, referring to Bad Bunny by his given name, Benito Ocasio Martínez. “For what he represents, for how he takes Latinos to the world. He’s a hardworking, kind person, and we always knew he would become one of the biggest artists in music history.”
The reunion followed months of speculation about the state of their relationship. Earlier this year, Balvin addressed the situation in an interview on El Vacilón de la Mañana, describing the distance between them as unresolved but not hostile. “We don’t talk,” he said at the time. “But when we see each other, the vibes will be good. There was never a real motive.”
Their collaborative history dates back to 2019, when the two artists recorded Oasis during an intensive two-week session. The project became a defining moment in Latin pop, praised for its chemistry and balance of styles, and helped solidify both artists as leaders of a rapidly expanding global movement. That legacy made the perceived fallout particularly notable, as fans and industry observers questioned how two artists so closely aligned could drift so publicly apart.
Balvin previously addressed the perceived diss shortly after “Thunder y Lightning” was released, expressing confusion rather than resentment. In an Instagram Live session, he emphasized the mutual support that once defined their relationship and reiterated his respect for Bad Bunny as both an artist and a person.
Sunday night’s performance suggested that any lingering misunderstandings have since been resolved. Balvin explicitly framed the reunion as an act of maturity, telling the crowd that growth and forgiveness were central to moving forward. “The past is the past,” he said. “We’ve grown. We forgive each other. That’s what matters.”
The Mexico City appearance did not include announcements of new collaborations, nor did either artist suggest that a formal reunion project is imminent. Still, the shared stage moment served as a clear public signal that whatever tension once existed no longer defines their relationship.
