Credited by Penelope Cruz bad rabbit To help her with what she describes as a major parenting milestone: finally being considered cool by her children. The 52-year-old actress opened up about her experience meeting the musician during a recent appearance.During an interview on ‘Hot Ones’ with host Sean Evans on Thursday, July 2, Cruise discussed the parenting benefits of taking her children to a Bad Bunny concert. The actress explained that she has two children, son Leo, 15, and daughter Luna, 12, whom she shares with her husband. Javier BardemThey were the ones who initially introduced him to the Grammy-winning artist’s music. “So, I was like, ‘These songs are not for you,'” the actress joked about the mature lyrical content of some musicians. “You know, we were trying to fight it for a while, but then I was kind of listening to it on my own.” She admits that while she initially resisted her children’s musical tastes, she eventually became a devoted listener herself.
Introducing the music of Bad Bunny
Cruz shared that the family attended the opening of Bad Bunny’s residency in his native Puerto Rico and has since performed five shows on his current international tour. The experience was transformative for his relationship with his teenagers and their perception of him.
The moment that changed everything
When the Puerto Rico residency opened, an unexpected opportunity arose. “But the first one in Puerto Rico was when Benito came up to me and asked me to go with him to say ‘Acho, pr es otra cosa,'” Cruz said, referring to the opening line of the musician’s song “Voy a ellevert pa pr.” He went on stage with the artist to perform this iconic moment from the show.That appearance proved to be the turning point in her standing with her teenage children. “And finally my kids came up to me and said, ‘Mom, we can finally say you’re awesome,'” Cruise added as the host laughed at her recounting of the moment. “Thank you Benito! It took me so many years,” she concluded with humor, admitting how long she had waited for her children to see her positively through that particular lens.
Penelope Cruz’s parenting philosophy
Cruise and Bardem, 57, married in 2010, and the actress has been vocal about her parenting approach in previous interviews. In 2024, she discussed her decision to turn off her children’s cellular devices. “It’s very easy to manipulate, especially if you have a brain that’s still forming,” he told a major publication of his reasoning. “And who pays the price? Not us, not our generation, who might have learned how a BlackBerry works at 25. It’s a cruel experiment on children, on teenagers.”His protective stance toward technology contrasts with his willingness to embrace his children’s musical interests, even when those interests gave him pause at first.
Bad Bunny’s recent success
Bad Bunny’s international recognition reached new heights with his sixth solo studio album, which served as a celebration of his native Puerto Rico filled with references to the flora, fauna and cultural heritage of the Caribbean island. The album received notable critical acclaim and earned her three Grammy Awards in 2026 for Best Album, Best Musica Urbana and Best Global Music Performance.Following his Grammy success, the Puerto Rican musician took the stage to headline the ‘Super Bowl Halftime Show’ in February 2026, cementing his position as one of the world’s most prominent music artists. He is currently on his DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS World Tour and will next perform at a venue in Nanterre, France near Paris on Saturday, July 4th.
