Amanda Serrano Fires Back at Jake Paul After His “Fake American” Attack on Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl Halftime Show
Bad Bunny made history at Super Bowl LX on Sunday night, delivering a 13-minute performance almost entirely in Spanish, a first for the halftime show. Hours later, Jake Paul, who lives in Puerto Rico and files taxes on the island, posted on X calling the Puerto Rican artist a “fake American citizen performing who publicly hates America” and urged viewers to turn off the broadcast. His own fighter, seven-division boxing world champion Amanda Serrano, answered publicly with a message that drew a firm line between gratitude and identity.
Jake Paul’s Call to Boycott
Paul posted his message shortly before the halftime performance at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, where the Seattle Seahawks defeated the New England Patriots 29-13. He framed the boycott as a consumer stand against corporations, writing that viewers should “rally together and show big corporations they can’t just do whatever they want without consequences.”
The post went viral and drew criticism across social media, with users quick to point out that Paul moved from Ohio to a $16 million mansion in Dorado, Puerto Rico, in 2023 to take advantage of Act 60 tax incentives, which eliminate federal income tax on certain earnings for qualifying residents. One user quoted his own tweet back at him: “Don’t yall live in Puerto Rico to avoid the American taxes!?!? Not very AMERICAN of ya dumbass”.
Amanda Serrano’s Response
Serrano, the first fighter signed to Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions in 2021 and holder of a lifetime contract with the company since 2025, responded from Puerto Rico, where she watched the halftime show with family. She said she was proud of how Bad Bunny “represented us and our culture” and stated plainly: “Puerto Ricans are not ‘fake Americans.’ We are citizens who have contributed to this country in every field, from military service to sports, business, science, and the arts, and our identity and citizenship deserve respect.”
She acknowledged the role Paul and MVP played in her career, calling it life-changing. But she added: “I do not agree with statements that question the legitimacy or identity of Puerto Rican people, and I cannot support that characterization. It is wrong”. She closed by saying she would “forever be a Proud Boricua.”
Jake’s brother Logan Paul also responded on X, writing: “I love my brother but I don’t agree with this. Puerto Ricans are Americans & I’m happy they were given the opportunity to showcase the talent that comes from the island”. The split between the brothers made headlines of its own, with Billboard reporting the two offered “sharply different reactions” to the performance.
The Political Backdrop
The backlash against Bad Bunny’s selection had been building for months. After the NFL announced him as the headliner in October, President Trump called the choice “absolutely ridiculous” and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said ICE agents would be “all over” the Super Bowl.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell defended the decision, calling Bad Bunny “one of the great artists in the world” and praising the performance for its ability to “unite people and bring people together”. Bad Bunny’s set featured guest appearances from Lady Gaga and Ricky Martin, and ended with the message “The Only Thing More Powerful Than Hate is Love” displayed on the stadium jumbotron.
For Serrano, the episode puts her in rare open disagreement with the man who helped her boxing career. She has previously described Paul as “the most polite man” she has worked with and credited MVP for transforming her and her family’s circumstances. But on this, she made clear her roots come first.
