Puerto Rico’s Supreme Court has dealt a significant legal blow to Bad Bunny by allowing a lawsuit filed by his former partner, Carliz de la Cruz Hernández, to proceed. The case centers on the alleged unauthorized use of her voice in the now-famous phrase “Bad Bunny, baby.”

The court’s ruling confirmed that there are plausible grounds to consider the existence of an original and creative work, sending the case back to the San Juan Trial Court for a deeper examination of the dispute. While this decision doesn’t guarantee a win for de la Cruz Hernández, it prevents the lawsuit from being dismissed outright.

The controversy dates back to 2015, when de la Cruz Hernández recorded the phrase at the request of Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio—Bad Bunny’s real name—to help shape his artistic identity. According to the lawsuit, the recording was later used without her written consent in songs like “Pa’ ti” (2017), featuring Bryant Myers, and “Dos mil 16” (2022), as well as in concert intros.

Court documents reveal that just one day before the release of Bad Bunny’s album *Un verano sin ti*, his representatives offered de la Cruz Hernández $2,000 for the rights to use the phrase. When no agreement was reached, the album was released with the recording included.

De la Cruz Hernández filed the lawsuit in March 2023 against Bad Bunny and Rimas Entertainment, seeking at least $40 million in damages for alleged violations of her image rights, moral rights as an author, and other harms.

With the Supreme Court’s recent decision, the case will continue in San Juan’s Trial Court, where judges will determine whether the recording was used improperly and if compensation is warranted.

This legal battle highlights the complexities artists face when blending personal relationships with creative work, especially in an era where identity and intellectual property rights are fiercely protected. For fans and observers alike, it’s a reminder that behind the music and catchy phrases, there are real stories and legal challenges shaping the industry.