TikTok is Calling out Latine Cosplayers with the “Ahora Todos Quieren Ser Latinos” Trend

photos of various TikTok influencers posing for the camera with latino food and beverages

When “Un Verano Sin Ti” was released by Latino reggaeton superstar Bad Bunny in the summer of 2022, the onslaught of TikTok trends that resulted from it wasn’t a surprise. A specific lyric from the modern Puerto Rican anthem “El Apagón,” that says, “ahora todos quieren ser Latinos” (meaning “now they all want to be Latinos”) has struck a chord with fans everywhere.


The lyrics have inspired responses to non-Latinos appropriating Latine culture.

There’s a fine line between appreciation and appropriation when it comes to expressions of culture, but some lines aren’t fine lines at all. Spa water is a prime example of extreme cultural ignorance that resulted in outright absurdity. Bad Bunny’s lyrics highlight how normal it is for non-Latinos to claim or appropriate Latine culture when convenient and how easy it is to outright steal the culture and re-name it any old thing - “clean girl aesthetic,” anyone?

In response to this, the internet is fighting back against non-Latinos who are claiming Latinidad for their own benefit:

@itscoral93

TikTok · itscoral93



@chrisdoucet28

#pegar un video de @its.me.again_07

Bad Bunny's anthem is a testament to the power of music as a platform for challenging conversations and a rallying cry for cultural respect and acknowledgment. This song and the internet's reaction to it shows us that the world of culture isn't a free-for-all buffet, where you can just grab what you fancy and slap a new name on it.

So, let's keep this conversation going, learn from each other, and remember to respect the cultures we’re borrowing from. After all, it's about time we give credit where credit's due. Boom, mic drop, Bad Bunny style.

a black woman with glasses covering her ears while standing in front of a mural with a mouth and a yellow background

The U.S. has undeniably seen a rise in polarized perspectives. Simple acts of politeness are now sometimes misconstrued as political statements, with some on the extreme right using "woke" as a blanket term for any views diverging from theirs. Gen Z often finds themselves at the receiving end of various critiques, ranging from being called overly sensitive to "soft." Yes, navigating the ever-changing landscape of what's considered offensive can be perplexing.

Keep ReadingShow less
A young Latina standing between tall bookshelves

This article is part of a series developed in partnership with Project Pulso.

Latino history is vital to the American narrative–there’s no America without Latino contributions. Despite this, Latino storytelling and history are increasingly being sidelined in educational institutions. The issue deepens when we look at the emerging trend of book banning.

Keep ReadingShow less