Willie Colon: Bad Bunny pauses show to honor willie colon in São Paulo
Bad Bunny paused his second concert at Allianz Parque in São Paulo to honor willie colon, the trombonist and producer who died in the morning hours of 21 February 2026. The Puerto Rican star, Benito Martínez Ocasio, spoke to the crowd and dedicated words to Colón as his touring band Los Sobrinos prepared to play.
Willie Colon honored in São Paulo
The pause occurred yesterday, Saturday, during Bad Bunny’s second concert at the Allianz Parque stadium in the city of São Paulo, Brazil. Colón, described in the headlines as a leyenda de la salsa and as the arquitecto de la salsa urbana, died on 21 February 2026 in the morning hours in New York from respiratory complications. He was 75 years old.
Bad Bunny's tribute and words
Before performances with Los Sobrinos, Bad Bunny addressed the audience and dedicated remarks to the Puerto Rican trombonist. He framed Colón as one of the legends who contributed to a beautiful and legendary genre and offered strength to the musician’s family. In Spanish, Bad Bunny said: “Especialmente para nosotros los que crecimos en el Caribe escuchando salsa... Hoy se fue una de las leyendas que aportó a este género tan hermoso y tan legendario. Así que, de parte mía y de Los Sobrinos, le deseamos que descanse en paz a Willie Colon. Mucha fortaleza a su familia. La inspiración de muchos de estos grandes músicos que dejaron en la tierra no va a morir nunca mientras sigan existiendo jóvenes talentosos como estos que están aquí, manteniendo la música y la salsa y todos los ritmos caribeños vivos. ”
Link through DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS
The personal and artistic connection between Benito Martínez Ocasio and Colón was reinforced by the successful album “DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS, ” on which Bad Bunny makes direct mention of the trombonist in the song “Nueva Yol. ” The lyrics include the line: “Willie Colón, me dicen el malo / ey / porque pasan los años y sigo dando palos, ” a direct nod to Colón. Bad Bunny also integrated the musician — who had been the musical partner of Rubén Blades and of Héctor Lavoe — in the video for the hit “Nueva Yol. ”
Past criticisms on X, Spotify 2025
The relationship between the two artists was not always cordial. In recent years Colón was very vocal and controversial on the social network X (formerly Twitter) and criticized Bad Bunny there, questioning the veracity of the Puerto Rican’s numbers on Spotify when Bad Bunny became once again the most-listened artist in 2025. Despite those public criticisms, Colón also publicly acknowledged Bad Bunny’s contribution to salsa and to spreading a more Puerto Rican and Latin position in the genre.
Colón's praise of Bad Bunny
Colón himself had said: “Es algo que todos necesitábamos, el empuje que le dio a la salsa, le dio al boricua y tomar una posición más puertorriqueña y más latina, eso lo necesitábamos. Es una movida excelente, ” recognizing the modern artist’s role in pushing salsa and Puerto Rican identity forward. The death of Colón did not go unnoticed by Bad Bunny or by artists and musicians who carry the salsa clave around the world.
Public reaction and posts
The moment in São Paulo was reflected in social posts tied to the concert coverage. A post shared by BAD BUNNY NEWS (@badbnuny2) appeared alongside other acknowledgments of Colón’s passing. The original article carrying these details was updated on 22 February 2026 at 4: 10 PM.
Closing: Willie Colón’s death on 21 February 2026 in New York, at age 75 from respiratory complications, prompted a public tribute from Bad Bunny at Allianz Parque in São Paulo, underscoring both the musical ties and the complex public relationship between the two artists.
