Singer promises to get his ‘Latina crush’ back

Bruno Mars has apparently found himself with some unexpected competition for Karol G’s attention, and he is not letting the moment pass without saying something. The “Die With a Smile” singer delivered a playful reaction after Drake joined Karol G onstage during her Houston concert on Sunday, Sept. 27. 

Video from the performance showed the Canadian rapper dancing with the Colombian superstar, prompting Mars to publicly joke about seeing another man getting close to his “Latina crush.”

“When you see Drake dancing with your latina crush in 4k,” Mars wrote on Instagram alongside a photo of himself staring seriously out of an airplane window. He tagged both Karol G and Drake before adding, “Respond to me asap!!”

“I have to get her back! I must get her back! I will get her back!” Mars declared.

Bruno Mars reacted to Drake and Karol G dancing

Drake made a surprise appearance during Karol G’s Viajando Por El Mundo Tropitour stop in Houston, joining her to perform their collaboration “Ahí.”

He remained onstage for performances that included “Janice STFU” and “One Dance.” During the latter, Karol G and Drake danced together, creating the moment that eventually caught Mars’ attention.

The situation is particularly entertaining because both men have musical connections to Karol G. Drake appears on “Ahí,” while Mars teamed up with the Grammy-winning Colombian artist for “Still.” Both tracks appear on Karol G’s 2026 album No Me Arrepiento de Sentir Tanto.

And the playful flirting did not begin with Drake’s Houston appearance.

Bruno Mars previously joked about falling for a Latina

Mars had already given fans plenty to discuss while promoting “Still.” In August, he posted content featuring the song alongside a caption about “falling for a Latina,” a reference fans quickly connected to Karol G amid promotion for their collaboration.

The teasing continued after Karol G shared promotional footage for “Still.” Mars commented, “That don’t look like acting to me, Carolina,” referring to Karol G by her real first name, Carolina Giraldo. The comment fueled speculation about their chemistry, although neither singer confirmed that their relationship was romantic.

© Karol G

Their professional connection has certainly been close. Mars joined Karol G during her Aug. 15 concert at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, where the pair debuted “Still” live. Footage from the performance was also used for the song’s official music video.

What Karol G has said about working with Bruno Mars

Karol G has been enthusiastic about collaborating with Mars, but her public comments have focused on their music. Speaking about “Still,” she explained that the song connected deeply with what she was experiencing emotionally when she heard it.

“It was as if someone had written exactly what I was going through,” she told Rolling Stone. She said Mars similarly connected with the track after it was sent to him and ultimately became involved in both the lyrics and production.

© Vito Fernicola

The collaboration was also significant because “Still” allowed Karol G to explore recording in English without treating the move as an attempt to reinvent herself. “Honestly, having a song with Bruno is something I still can’t believe,” she said.

The two worked closely in the studio, with Karol G revealing that Mars helped direct her vocal delivery and English pronunciation during an overnight recording session.

Drake also has a connection with Karol G

Drake’s appearance in Houston was not simply a random celebrity cameo. Karol G and Drake collaborated on “Ahí,” and she has explained that the partnership had been years in the making.

According to Karol G, Drake once contacted her on Instagram to request a video for his masseuse, who was a fan. The conversation eventually turned toward the possibility of making music together.

© Getty Images

© Getty Images

When “Ahí” came together, Karol G said she helped Drake with his Spanish pronunciation during the recording process. “The pronunciation was super important to him,” she recalled, adding that Drake repeatedly told her, “Please, I have to get the pronunciation down.”

Their collaboration also carries an extra flirtatious detail. Drake had previously referenced Karol G as “Karolina” in his music, and “Ahí” revisits that connection.