Seven-weight world champion Amanda Serrano has publicly criticised Jake Paul after he called Puerto Rican singer Bad Bunny a 'fake American' following his Super Bowl halftime performance. The controversy erupted when Paul, who signed Serrano to his Most Valuable Promotions in 2021, posted on social media that he turned off the halftime show because he couldn't support Bad Bunny.

Serrano, who became the first boxer signed to Paul's promotion company, responded with a lengthy statement defending Puerto Rican identity and citizenship. She emphasized that Puerto Ricans are American citizens who have contributed to the United States in every field, from military service to sports, business, science, and the arts. The WBA and WBO featherweight champion expressed gratitude for Paul's support while making clear she disagreed with his characterization of Puerto Ricans.

Paul later claimed his use of 'fake' was misinterpreted, saying it referred to Bad Bunny's values rather than citizenship. However, other boxing figures like Claressa Shields and Paul's brother Logan publicly disagreed with his comments. The incident highlights tensions around Puerto Rican identity and citizenship status, as Puerto Rico remains an unincorporated U.S. territory where residents are American citizens but cannot vote in presidential elections.

Quick Fact: Bad Bunny became the first musician to perform a Super Bowl halftime show entirely in Spanish.