Logan Paul accused Bad Bunny of evading and taking advantage of Puerto Rican tax laws in a recent appearance on Philip DeFranco’s YouTube show. Immediately after, the singer’s fans came out in his defense on social media.
Paul made his remarks referencing the documentary Bunny released alongside his “El Apagón” music video. The film tackles Puerto Rican displacement, and how figures like Logan Paul contribute to this, reaping the benefits of the island while contributing to the gentrification of the island.
“Bad Bunny is a Puerto Rican living in Puerto Rico who is privately taking advantage of the same tax program that he is publicly condemning,” Paul said. “I see this music video that has stuck me in the middle of it surrounded by context that makes me look like a vulture in Puerto Rico. While I love Bad Bunny, I cannot personally support the hypocritical nature of his exploitation.”
The ruling Paul is talking about is called Act 22 and it’s a tax break that foreign residents can qualify for, exempting them from paying taxes on cryptocurrency, stocks, and real estate. The break was initially introduced as a way to boost the island’s economy but has had unintended consequences such as those raised by the singer.
As a native Puerto Rican that lives on the island, Bad Bunny doesn’t qualify for the same tax break, something that people made clear online.
Logan Paul, a white American man living in PR, saying that Bad Bunny, a native Puerto Rican, is taking advantage of living in Puerto Rico.
Can’t make this up
— dani (@dch1309) October 6, 2022
Logan Paul really went after Bad Bunny for getting a tax break in his own country pic.twitter.com/i0M3m1dAAD
— Charli Damelio's Burner (@charlidemolia) October 6, 2022
“We’re doing what we can to help,” Paul shared. “And I want to do more as well. And truthfully, I should be doing more.” He encouraged viewers to comment on what percentage of profits he saved thanks to Act 22 should be donated to the community.”
Paul has been living on the island for the past year and a half. Last year, he was criticized after he drove a beach buggy down the beach during turtle nesting season, with the local department of Natural and Environmental Resources claiming that they would be completing an investigation on the matter, several media outlets reported.
