Bad Bunny’s Ex-Girlfriend Is Suing the Singer For $40 Million Over “Bad Bunny, Baby” Recording

Bad Bunny’s ex-girlfriend is suing the 29-year-old superstar for at least $40 million over a voice recording she alleges was used in two of his songs without her permission, People confirmed on March 21 after Puerto Rico’s NotiCel was the first to report the news.

According to a court document obtained by NotiCel and filed earlier this month, Carliz De La Cruz Hernández claims she recorded the phrase “Bad Bunny, baby” on her phone in a friend’s bathroom in 2015 and sent it to Bad Bunny (née Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio) when they were dating. She alleges the voice memo is featured on his songs “Pa Ti” and “Dos Mil 16” without her consent.

The complaint states that a representative for Bad Bunny offered to buy the rights to the recording for $2,000 in May 2022, the same month that his “Un Verano Sin Ti” album was released; however, De La Cruz rejected the offer. Still, “Dos Mil 16” was released with the “Bad Bunny, baby” catchphrase.

The lawsuit also notes that De La Cruz’s “distinguishable voice” has been used for songs, records, promotions, worldwide concerts, television, radio, and social and musical platforms without her permission, per People. Bad Bunny’s manager, Noah Kamil Assad Byrne of Rimas Entertainment, is listed in the lawsuit as well.

“Since then, thousands of people have commented directly on Carliz’s social networks, as well as every time she goes to a public place, about the ‘Bad Bunny, baby.’ This has caused, and currently causes, that De La Cruz feels worried, anguished, intimidated, overwhelmed, and anxious,” the lawsuit, obtained by NotiCel, notes in Spanish. “The situation for De La Cruz became unmanageable to the point that she had to communicate with multiple psychologists for help as soon as possible.” Reps for Bad Bunny, Byrne, and De La Cruz did not immediately respond to POPSUGAR’s request for comment.

Related: Bad Bunny Reveals the Hilarious Reason He Almost Missed His Grammys Performance

Per the lawsuit, Bad Bunny and De La Cruz first began dating in 2011. During their time together, De La Cruz alleges that Bad Bunny was always creating music and would play his songs for her to get her opinion on them. In January 2016, Bad Bunny proposed to De La Cruz, and they were set to tie the knot in July 2016. However, Bad Bunny ended up getting signed to Rimas Entertainment in April 2016, while Hernández was accepted into the University of Puerto Rico’s law school. They broke up in May 2016, rekindled their romance in 2017, but eventually broke up for good shortly after.