Bad Bunny grants Lula rights for Brazilian campaign ad

Puerto Rican singer Bad Bunny has authorized Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva to use his song "Lo que le pasó a Hawái" in an audiovisual campaign ad ahead of the upcoming presidential election, according to Canal 26, which reported it on September 24, 2026. According to the outlet, the artist's team gave its approval to adapt the track into Portuguese and incorporate it into a video shared on the president's official social media accounts.

The video, which runs less than a minute, focuses on national sovereignty, cultural identity and the protection of Brazil's natural resources. The version used keeps the original melody but adapts part of the lyrics to the Brazilian political context, including references to rivers, beaches and strategic minerals known as rare earths. The video also includes an opening narration by Brazilian actor Wagner Moura about the Silva surname.

The choice of song reflects the message the track has conveyed since its original release, which questions the impact of external influences, the displacement of communities and the transformation of territories. According to Brazilian media cited by Canal 26, the campaign considered that the content speaks directly to the president's recent defense of sovereignty against outside interference, a theme he has raised at international forums such as the United Nations General Assembly.

The musical endorsement comes in the final stretch before Brazil's presidential election, scheduled for October 4, 2026, when Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva will seek reelection. With this authorization, the artist joins other international figures who have allowed their work to be used for electoral messages in the region.