'He makes you look small': AOC blasts Jake Paul after boxer calls Bad Bunny 'fake American citizen'

WASHINGTON, DC: Democratic Rep Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who praised the Grammy-winning artist Bad Bunny's Super Bowl LX performance, fired back at boxer Jake Paul on Monday, February 9, after he labeled Bunny a “fake American citizen.”

Paul had also pledged to boycott the halftime show. Later, he tried to clarify his statement on X, explaining what he meant by the term “fake citizen.”

AOC slams Jake Paul

The morning after the Big Game, the New York representative AOC responded to an incendiary post from Paul on X: “A 'fake American citizen?' Didn’t you move to Puerto Rico to avoid paying your taxes while kids across America go hungry?”

AOC continued, “Meanwhile Benito actually funds low income kids’ access to arts and sports programs, while you defund them.” The Bronx native concluded, “Of course you’re mad. He makes you look small.”

The exchange followed Paul’s post on X, in which he wrote, "Purposefully turning off the halftime show. Let’s rally together and show big corporations they can’t just do whatever they want without consequences."

He added, "(which equals viewership for them) You are their benefit. Realize you have power. Turn off this halftime. A fake American citizen performing who publicly hates America. I cannot support that."

Jake Paul clarifies his ‘fake citizen’ post about Bad Bunny

Jake Paul was among numerous conservative figures who criticized the selection of Bad Bunny as this year’s Super Bowl headliner. Many commentators portrayed the six-time Grammy winner as un-American, despite him being a legal US citizen from Puerto Rico, an unincorporated territory of the United States.

After facing backlash for his “fake American citizen” remark, including criticism from his brother Logan, Jake Paul attempted to clarify his statement.

On X, Paul wrote, "The problem with my tweet is the word fake being misinterpreted he's not a fake citizen obviously bc hes Puerto Rican and I love Puerto Rico and all Americans who support the country." He added, "Moreso Bunny is fake bc of his values and criticism of our great country."

In a separate post, Paul further explained, "To clarify: I wasn’t calling anyone a “fake citizen” because they’re from Puerto Rico. I live in Puerto Rico, and I love Puerto Rico. I have used my platform to support Puerto Rico time and time again and will always do so."

He cautioned, "But if you’re publicly criticizing ICE who are doing their job and openly hating on America, I’m going to speak on it. Period. That’s the same reason I called out Hunter Hess."

He concluded, "If you benefit from a country and the platform it gives you, but publicly disrespect it at the same time, that’s what I mean by being a fake citizen. And I agree love is more powerful than hate. Love America."

To explain the background of Bunny’s comments about ICE, the artist openly criticized the agency during his acceptance of the Album of the Year Grammy earlier this month. As he received the award, he declared, “ICE out,” and added, “We're not savage, we're not animals, we're not aliens, we are humans, and we are Americans.”