Bad Bunny in Lockdown

Reggaeton superstar Bad Bunny, whose real name is Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, appears on our June cover from his rented home in San Juan, Puerto Rico, where he has isolated himself during the pandemic. When assistant editor Suzy Exposito began reporting this story in early March, she could not have predicted that traditional interviews would be replaced by Zoom sessions, FaceTime calls, and playlist swaps. Despite the physical distance, the result [“Bad Bunny in Captivity,” RS 1340] is an intimate look at the personal and political influences shaping Bad Bunny’s career, which inspired impassioned responses from readers. ”This is a groundbreaking moment for Latinx visibility,” wrote Alex Zaragoza. “Suzy Exposito is the first Latina to write a Rolling Stone cover story, and Gabriela Berlingeri is the first to shoot the cover,” tweeted Misty Trevino. “Beautifully written and captivating.” Others praised Bad Bunny for the way he has used his voice during the pandemic. Adrian Carrasquillo wrote, “Finished the Bad Bunny cover, and I appreciated his attention to [gender-based violence in quarantine].” Elby Montero added, “His music has really helped us with these rough times.”

“This didn’t feel like I was reading an article. It felt like I was actually talking to Bad Bunny. Fabulous job!” —Cristal, via Twitter