Reggaeton pop superstar Bad Bunny is facing criticism after it was revealed he used private charter flights operated by a company that also contracts with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for deportation flights.

The controversy stems from recent social media posts showing Bad Bunny disembarking from a Global X jet bearing the logo of a private charter company. Critics on social media pointed out that the same company operates flights for ICE, including those used to transport undocumented immigrants facing deportation.

The use of private jets for government contracts has been criticized for its lack of transparency and accountability.

A secretive ICE division oversees hundreds of annual deportation flights, costing taxpayers $1 billion in the past decade, according to reporting from the Associated Press in 2018. ICE Air Operations handles these transfers, detaining and transporting roughly 100,000 individuals yearly, AP said in the article.

Bad Bunny’s association with a company linked to ICE raises questions about the potential impact of his actions on the communities he advocates for. The singer is known for his socially conscious lyrics and activism, making the criticism particularly noteworthy.

“Bad Bunny has expressed some progressive positions on some issues in the past, such as the political climate in his hometown Puerto Rico. People that have that level of power to influence mass culture, do have a responsibility to use that platform to support progressive change,” Maru Mora-Villalpando, founder and adviser of grassroots organization La Resistencia, said.

Along with his celeb status, Bad Bunny has a major influence on his fans and others around the world.

In 2020, he brought attention to Alexa Negrón Luciano, a homeless transgender woman who was shot and killed in Puerto Rico for using a women’s bathroom, during a performance on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon. He said later that he felt a responsibility to address gender-based violence in his home of Puerto Rico.

“I am going to do what is within my reach to [work]against [violence against women]. … My message shouldn’t be a feminist message. It’s a universal message,” he said in his 2020 Rolling Stone cover story.

He’s also gotten some backlash for his public statements. In 2022, Bad Bunny made headlines for kissing their male backup dancer and wearing drag in music videos, where he was accused of “queerbaiting.” In response, he addressed the comments in a 2023 interview with Vanity Fair.

“You don’t know the reasons why a person is wearing that. You weren’t in his mind when he decided to put on a skirt or a blouse. You don’t know what’s inside him, what’s in his heart … You do it because you want to and it makes you feel good and it makes you feel happy,” they said in the interview.

In addition to the critique on ICE, environmental concerns were also raised, as private jets contribute significantly more carbon emissions per passenger than commercial airlines.

A slew of celebrities have been under fire for excessive use of private jets amidst a climate crisis. Pop superstar Taylor Swift has faced criticism for the use of her private jet over the last few months.  Recently deleted Instagram account TaylorSwiftJets showed that she had used 138 tons of CO2 emissions in just three months. Swift’s attorneys have since threatened legal action against the account if they did not stop the tracking. She recently threatened to sue a student named Jack Sweeney for their tracking of her jet, stating that revealing her location puts her more at risk with her stalkers.

Reality stars Kylie Jenner and Kim Kardashian have also been criticized for their private jet use since 2022.

These practices have sparked discussions about celebrity responsibility, environmental impact, and the ethics of private charter travel.

It’s important to note that Global X planes are used by many different entities, not just for ICE flights. The charter company also offers non-ICE related services, further complicating the ethical discussion.

It is unknown if Bad Bunny was aware of the specific plane’s past use. The musician has not yet responded to the criticism.

It remains to be seen if the controversy will impact Bad Bunny’s career or future travel choices.

“Let’s be clear, this isn’t about calling out or canceling Bad Bunny. It’s a call for him to carefully review his contracts and make changes to avoid supporting companies that harm our gente. We can and should expect more from the celebrities that make tons of $$$ of our communities,” immigrants rights group Mijente said in their Feb. 14 post on the situation.