A major international music star is under fire after placing his hand on a centuries-old archaeological treasure during a visit to one of Mexico’s most important cultural institutions.
Bad Bunny sparked controversy when he shared a photograph of himself at the National Institute of Anthropology and History in Mexico City.
The image showed the performer with his hand on what appeared to be an ancient Maya stone slab.
The 31-year-old artist visited the museum on Dec. 17 while concluding his Debí Tirar Más Fotos World Tour, according to reports.
The photograph quickly circulated online, drawing swift condemnation from both officials and the public.
The carved monument in question dates back to somewhere between 250 and 900 AD.
These stone slabs featured portraits of powerful Maya rulers and contained detailed hieroglyphic texts that documented important events in ancient civilization.
Historians note that such artifacts served crucial purposes in Maya society.
They were placed in public plazas to commemorate significant dynastic events, display political power, document religious rituals and mark the passage of time.
The Daily Mail reported that the National Institute of Anthropology and History responded immediately to the incident.
The institution issued a direct warning to the rapper, stating clearly that physical contact with archaeological goods is prohibited and widely known to be forbidden.
Museum officials explained that their security personnel had to intervene as soon as they observed the singer touching the artifact.
According to the institution, the artist immediately removed his hand after being instructed that such contact was not permitted.
Public reaction on social media was swift and harsh, the Daily Mail highlighted.
One person wrote on X, “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 commenter added, “What privilege does he have to go around touching artifacts? F*ing ahole.”
A third person 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.”
The institution emphasized that Mexico’s cultural heritage must be respected by all visitors, regardless of their status or fame.
They stressed the critical importance of not physically handling these invaluable artifacts that belong to all of humanity.
Following the backlash, Bad Bunny deleted the photograph from his social media accounts.
The performer, whose real name is Benito Ocasio, has not issued a public statement about the incident.
The museum controversy came just days after the Puerto Rican rapper took a dramatic fall during a concert at the 65,000-seat GNP Seguros Stadium in Mexico City.
While performing his song Efecto, he slipped and fell backwards, landing directly on his rear end.
These incidents occur as Bad Bunny prepares for one of the biggest performances of his career.
He is scheduled to perform at the Super Bowl halftime show, a booking that has generated significant controversy.
The Super Bowl appearance has drawn criticism due to the rapper’s anti-Trump political stance and the fact that he performs almost entirely in Spanish.
After the booking was announced in late September, President Donald Trump called the decision “ridiculous” and “crazy” during an interview with Newsmax.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem told YouTuber Benny Johnson that ICE would be “all over” the football game to “enforce the law.”
Additional controversy erupted when video surfaced showing the artist remaining seated during a performance of God Bless America at a New York Yankees game while fans around him stood.
