Rapper Bad Bunny Says a Nail Salon Refused to Give Him a Manicure
Nail polish should be for everyone — after all, everyone has fingernails, so why shouldn’t everyone be able to paint them as they please? Unfortunately, antiquated gender norms often suggest that nail polish is “only” for one half of the gender binary. But Puerto Rican rapper Bad Bunny is challenging that with his own story of gender discrimination at a local salon in Spain.
As Buzzfeed reported on July 23, the “I Like It” rapper alleges that a local nail salon in Oviedo, Spain, refused to give him a manicure because he’s a man.
According to Remezcla, he sought out the salon after needing a polish change while on tour in Europe. A now-deleted Instagram post and tweet included a photo of the storefront of the salon. Bad Bunny wrote: “I just wanted to tell you all that I went to this sh*tty place to get my nails done (manicure + color) and they told me NO because I’m a MAN hahaha,” he wrote. “I don’t know what to think, but it seems very very very unfortunate haha. What year is it? F/*cking 1960? What do you call this?”
Most fans responded with messages of support, with one user tweeting, “we stan an artist that is against toxic masculinity and gender norms.” Another asked, “They really told bad bunny he couldn’t get his nails done bc he’s a guy?”
According to Remezcla, Metro PR reports that the salon’s owner tried to clear up the incident during a local radio interview. “La Mega host Fernán Vélez spoke to the owner of the beauty salon, who told the station that the business isn’t unisex and that it only serves women,” per Remezcla. “Vélez claims the salon also directed Bad Bunny to another business where could get his nails done.”
The 24-year-old artist has been known to sport a statement manicure, and even documented his DIY manicure in his “Estamos Bien” music video. He’s not the only music-maker to rock lacquered tips, either. Singer Harry Styles has taken the stage many a time with painted nails — and is allegedly inspiring young male fans to do the same. And as the New York Daily News reported in 2016, Amber Rose became the subject of online controversy after taking her son, Sebastian, to get a manicure.
Bad Bunny's experience with gender discrimination is unfortunately still common; in February 2018, an Australian woman was turned away from a Queensland barber shop because of her gender. “I thought [the barber] was kidding,” she told Australian newspaper ABC of the experience. “I want to use a barber shop, because that’s the style of haircut I have.”
Teen Vogue has reached out to the nail salon in question and will update this story accordingly.
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