Outrage as Bad Bunny violates sacred artifact at museum,
Bad Bunny has been slammed for putting his hand on an ancient artifact during a museum visit in Mexico.
The music superstar shared an image of himself at the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) in Mexico City while wrapping up his Debí Tirar Más Fotos World Tour.
During his December 17 visit, the 31-year-old had someone snap a photo of him placing his hand on what appeared to be an ancient Maya stone slab.
The carved monument, likely created between 250 and 900 AD, featured portraits of powerful rulers and detailed hieroglyphic texts. These slabs were used to commemorate important dynastic events, political power, religious rituals and the passage of time in public plazas.
INAH immediately issued a warning to the rapper, saying: ‘As is public knowledge, physical contact with archaeological goods is prohibited.’
Museums prohibit touching artifacts primarily to preserve them for future generations, as skin oils, dirt, acids and even breath can cause irreversible damage, corrosion and discoloration.
The incident quickly drew criticism online, with many calling the rapper ‘ignorant’ and an ‘a**hole.’ One X user wrote, ‘Obviously thought the rules didn’t apply to him because he’s famous, the superiority is sickening, they don’t know how to be humble.’
Another added, ‘What privilege does he have to go around touching artifacts? F***ing a**hole,’ while a third commented, ‘This a**hole thinks he’s a hotshot and touches stuff like it’s no big deal. Not even going to a museum gets rid of his tacky ways.’
INAH explained that its security personnel had to intervene immediately upon noticing the singer place his hand on the artifact.
‘Museum security personnel warned the artist that touching the archaeological pieces was not permitted; after the instruction, the musician immediately removed his hand from the artwork,’ the institution explained.
The INAH emphasized that Mexico’s cultural heritage must be respected by all visitors, stressing the importance of not physically handling these invaluable artifacts.
Visitors are generally prohibited from touching original artifacts or replicas in museums, as contact can cause long-term damage.
Under Mexico’s Federal Law on Monuments, anyone who touches, damages, or removes archaeological items or museum artifacts can face fines or even imprisonment.
Bad Bunny has since deleted the image from his social media. The Daily Mail approached the rapper for comment.
Days before the museum trip, he took a painful-looking tumble onstage during a concert at the 65,000-seat GNP Seguros Stadium in Mexico City.
The Puerto Rican rapper, whose real name is Benito Ocasio, was in the midst of a rendition of his song Efecto when the incident occurred.
While striding across the stage, he slipped and fell dramatically backwards and slightly sideways, landing directly on his rear end.
Rather than rising to his feet immediately and continuing the performance, he sat silently onstage for a few beats before gathering himself back up again.
His massive audience could be heard singing the lyrics to Efecto for him before he stood, in footage of the accident that surfaced on X.
The fall took place just two months before Bunny plays the Super Bowl halftime show, a booking that has proven controversial as a result of his anti-Trump political stance and the fact that he raps almost entirely in Spanish.
After Bunny’s Super Bowl booking was announced in late September, US President Donald Trump slammed the move as ‘ridiculous’ and ‘crazy’ to Newsmax.
Meanwhile, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem assured YouTuber Benny Johnson that ICE would be ‘all over’ the football game to ‘enforce the law.’
The furor intensified when footage went viral of Bunny staying pointedly seated during a performance of God Bless America at a New York Yankees game, while surrounded by fans who were standing up for the song.
