Billboard Latin Music Awards 2021: The Best and Worst Moments

From J. Lo’s iconic Versace dress to Bad Bunny’s powerful political performance, here are the best and worst moments of the 2021 Billboard Latin Music Awards.

Best Moments

The Billboard Latin Music Awards are always a night to remember. This year’s show was no different, with some of the biggest names in Latin music coming together to celebrate the best in the industry. From unforgettable performances to moving acceptance speeches, here are the best moments from the 2021 Billboard Latin Music Awards.

J Balvin’s Opening Performance

The 27th annual Billboard Latin Music Awards kicked off on Thursday (April 29) with a show-stopping opening performance by reggaeton superstar J Balvin. Joined by a team of electric dancers, the Colombian artist performed his hits “Mi Gente” and “Agárrala” inside a massive cube filled with neon lights.

It was a high-energy way to start the evening, and set the tone for what was shaping up to be an exciting night of music.

Bad Bunny’s Surprise Appearance

One of the night’s most talked-about moments was Bad Bunny’s surprise appearance. The reggaeton superstar took the stage to perform his new song “Dákiti” with Jhay Cortez, and he also delivered a moving speech in support of the Black Lives Matter movement. “We need to open our eyes because racism exists and it is learned,” he said. “It doesn’t matter the color of your skin, what language you speak or where you come from.”

Ozuna’s Medley Performance

This was one of the night’s most highly-anticipated performances, and Ozuna didn’t disappoint. He kicked off his set with “Baila Baila Baila” before transitioning into a high-energy medley of some of his biggest hits including “Te Boté,” “Taki Taki,” “China,” and more. The Puerto Rican star was joined on stage by a team of dancers who helped bring his vision to life and hyped up the crowd throughout the performance.

Worst Moments

The Billboard Latin Music Awards were held last night, and while there were some great moments, there were also some not-so-great ones. Let’s take a look at the worst moments from last night’s show.

The Sound Issues

It was hard to ignore the sound issues that plagued this year’s show. At one point during J Balvin and Bad Bunny’s performance, the audio cut out completely, which caused some viewers at home to wonder if their TVs were on mute. The sound issues continued throughout the show, with audio dropping in and out during various points.

The Technical Glitches

The biggest issue of the night were the show’s many technical glitches, including audio problems, dying sound during win announcements and performance issues.

The most shocking moment came when reggaeton duo Zion & Lennox were giving their acceptance speech for Latin Rhythm Song of the Year and their audio completely died, resulting in an incredibly awkward moment where the duo look lost on stage.

Thankfully, they were able to restart their speech and finish it without any more hitches.

The Awards Ceremony Running Late

The awards ceremony was scheduled to start at 7 p.m. ET, but it didn’t actually start until about 7:45 p.m. ET. This caused a lot of viewers to miss the first few performances and award presentations.