Why Is Everyone So Mad About Benny Blanco’s Latin Album?

Benny Blanco, the renowned producer known for his work with global pop icons, has released his latest project, Hermoso, an album deeply rooted in Latin musical styles. This follow-up to his 2025 collaboration with Selena Gomez, I Said I Love You First, features a vibrant roster of artists from the Latin music scene, including Becky G, Myke Towers, Mora, Netón Vega, BB Trickz, the Marías, and Colombian producer Ovy on the Drums.

Hermoso embraces a fusion of genres such as música mexicana, cumbia, and reggaeton, layered over Blanco’s signature pop production. This marks a pronounced shift for Blanco, who first gained fame producing hits for artists like Britney Spears and Ed Sheeran, now venturing further into Latin sounds that have influenced him since childhood in Virginia.

Despite the album's musical ambition, Hermoso has sparked controversy online, with critics questioning Blanco’s authenticity and approach. Some detractors accuse him of cultural appropriation, scrutinizing both the album’s Latin-focused tracklist and its caricature-style cover art, which features Blanco donning a mask. Critics argue that as a non-Latino — Blanco was born Benjamin Levin and identifies as Ashkenazi Jewish — the adoption of a Latin persona is problematic, especially considering the sociopolitical climate affecting Latino communities in the United States.

Blanco has publicly acknowledged his background and the origins of his stage name, which he chose while studying Spanish and inspired by a character from the film Carlito’s Way. He has never claimed Latino heritage but has expressed a long-standing admiration and connection to Latin music, citing his upbringing in an area with a substantial Latin population as a key influence.

In interviews, Blanco has voiced solidarity with immigrant communities and criticized harsh U.S. immigration policies, recognizing the cultural and social contributions of Latinos. He also supports his wife Selena Gomez’s activism on immigration issues, underscoring a shared commitment to social causes.

The collaborative nature of Hermoso is consistent with Blanco’s recent artistic trajectory. Over the past several years, he has increasingly incorporated Latin artists and producers into his projects, from the 2019 Latin pop hit “I Can’t Get Enough” featuring Gomez and J Balvin to work with Grammy-winning songwriter Edgar Barrera and Mexican acts like Netón Vega and the Marías. This ongoing engagement with Latin music scenes has been both a personal and professional evolution for Blanco.

While some listeners have embraced the album as a genuine exploration of Latin rhythms and culture, others remain skeptical, particularly regarding certain collaborations, such as with BB Trickz, who has faced separate controversies. The album’s cover art has also drawn mixed interpretations, with some suggesting it is a self-deprecating nod to online critiques of Blanco’s appearance rather than an attempt at ethnic mimicry.

Musically, Hermoso has found success, notably with the track “Te Olvido (La La),” featuring Becky G, which has climbed to number two on Billboard’s Hot Latin Pop Songs chart. The accompanying music video, rich with Chicano cultural imagery, has attracted millions of views, indicating a strong audience response despite the backlash.

Ultimately, Hermoso stands as a complex and layered project that blurs the lines between cultural influence, artistic identity, and the responsibilities of cross-cultural engagement in music. Benny Blanco’s entry into Latin-focused production continues to provoke important conversations about the intersection of heritage, creativity, and respect in the evolving global music industry.