The MTV VMAs were largely devoid of political statements. Ariana Grande shouted out the gays, and Sabrina Carpenter welcomed drag queens onstage, but few addressed the Trump administration’s troubling attacks on migrants — except Lenny Tavárez.
The Puerto Rican star, who performed with J Balvin and Justin Quiles, walked the red carpet in a custom Manuel Tiscareno suit titled “Unbroken Chains,” featuring straps of red fabric threaded through chains embroidered with the words “No Human Is Illegal.” The design was a reference to Trump’s inhumane deportation tactics this year.
“The red carpet is a great opportunity to say something with fashion,” Tavarez tells Rolling Stone. “What’s happening is unjust and painful. There are ways to go about this with more love and care, but they are treating us like cows.”
Tavarez worked with designer Tiscareno, a Mexican American designer, to craft the look, which took over 100 hours to complete, with 60 of those dedicated specifically to the custom-made silver chains on the suit.
“We wanted to go with the broken chain theme for the symbolism of freedom and the political climate in the U.S. For me, it was so personal, because I am going through a shortage of workers over the deportations,” Tiscareño says. “This suit was personal to me. I wanted to touch on the humanity of immigrants.”
Tavárez’s outfit was especially impactful, given that ICE ads aired between performances on the CBS broadcast. He later took the stage with J Balvin and Quiles, the latter being one of the Puerto Rican musicians who endorsed Donald Trump’s 2024 presidential bid. Tavárez said he didn’t run the outfit by his co-performers and didn’t feel he needed to.
“I didn’t want them to have a chance to interfere. But I also didn’t make them feel uncomfortable by bringing it up,” Tavarez said. “I told them the same day of the VMAs, and they both supported me and were happy with my decision.”
About Quiles’ support for Trump, Tavarez said he’ll let his collaborator speak for himself. But added, “Where there isn’t love, there isn’t love. And you feel that. It doesn’t mean that all migrants need to be here illegally — yes, take out the ones doing the things bad — but there needs to be a lot more humanity in the process.”
At the VMAs, Tavárez performed “Zun Zun,” which he called the “appetizer” to his upcoming collaborative project with Quiles.
“May our differences never break what unites us. Humanity should have no borders,” he added on Instagram. “Music, art, and fashion have the power to shout what is sometimes meant to be silenced. And last night, that was my message.”
