Bad Bunny Bowl Backlash

The NFL has announced that the halftime show performer for the 2026 Super Bowl would be Bad Bunny, which has started an uproar on all sides on social media. 

On September 28, the NFL had announced their star for the 60th Super Bowl halftime show would be Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, more famously known as Bad Banny, a Puerto Rican rapper and record producer. He had originally gained followers on SoundCloud in 2016 and signed a music label with Hear This Music Label. Bad Bunny’s first big release was a single called “Soy Peor,” which translates to “I’m Worse,” in 2016. Collaborations with other artists such as J Balvin and Cardi B on the hit track “I Like It” put him on the map as well. 

Bad Bunny is known for his Latin trap/pop music and keeping his career deeply rooted in his Puerto Rican culture. He is also credited with bringing Latin music to the global music industry. 

“The halftime show is the ultimate celebration of music and culture, and few artists embody that intersection more perfectly and authentically than Bad Bunny,” Oliver Schusser, the Vice President of Apple’s Music, Sports, and Beats, said. 

However, following this announcement, there has been a divide on social media. Though many people are excited for his performance, just as many are also upset. One reason for the backlash is because the artist uses little-to-no english lyrics in his songs.

“I am fortunate to have been raised in a bilingual, bicultural home, so I understand both points of view. I can understand the frustration, but I can also understand what an excellent opportunity for many Americans to see what it's like to experience something that understands what others are saying. A lot of Latinos in this country may not understand the exact words someone is saying and they still carry on and do their jobs,” NHS World Language Chair Elizabeth Ward said. “And even if you don't know the words, you can enjoy the smiles, you can enjoy the beat, so why not take maybe 15 minutes of your life to understand what it's like to be a part of a celebration?”

People have even become upset with not only the NFL, but also Jay-Z and his company Roc Nation, who have been deciding the Super Bowl Halftime Show performers since 2019. 

"Another boring, unrelatable halftime show. Only thing I can do is not purchase from any of the sponsors since you insist on allowing the same garbage 2 yrs in a row...Maybe it's time you find another promoter, because Jay Z ain't cuttin it,” another fan said according to yahoo!sports. 

Others are upset because they view some of his performances as “demonic” or “sadistic.” On X, some even believe that the NFL choosing him is "emasculating” to the NFL players and men in America. 

“Looks like the NFL is doubling down on trying to emasculate men,”  @DigitalGal_X said on X. 

“There's nothing worse than being somewhere and feeling like you don't belong. I've been trying to make sure everybody feels part of the culture of reggaeton,” Bad Bunny said to Click2Houston. “I want to make sure they feel that they have someone there, that friend that can stand up for them.” 

On Saturday Night Live, Bad Bunny hosted on October 4. In his monologue, he thanks all of his fans around the globe and in America while speaking Spanish, and then ends the monologue by saying, “If you didn’t understand what I just said, you have four months to learn.”

“Can you imagine if an American artist went to another country & told them to learn English?” Danielle D’Souza Gill (wife of Brandon Gill) said on X. “The NFL should pick a performer who respects American culture.”

However, people seem to forget that Puerto Rico is a U.S. territory, and statements like Gill’s have caused more tension on social media. 

“Personally I dont think its justified because the whole point of America is that it's a melting pot, so why wouldn't you want to represent every aspect of that, especially spanish because its such a huge part of american culture, and Puerto Rico is also a part of America," NHS Senior Matiya Kouassi said. 

Another debate about Bad Bunny performing at the Super Bowl is his refusal to tour in the U.S. during his Debí Tirar Más Fotos tour due to fear of “ICE raids” at his concert, which not only made U.S. citizens upset for not being able to attend, but also upset towards ICE. 

“I think at the Super Bowl, the seats are so expensive, that there's less of a chance for minorities and immigrants to be there. So knowing that, he probably feels a little better about performing there to begin with,’’ NHS Senior Siobhan DaMato-Martinez said.

"Is it that hard to pick a unifying music act who doesn’t want to peddle woke propaganda? Does this guy really scream American football to anyone? Be for real with me. No one thinks he does. This isn’t about music, it’s about putting a guy on stage who hates Trump and MAGA," a NFL fan quoted on yahoo!sports said. 

However, within the month of September in 2025, about 51% of his streams came from the U.S. 's Gen-Z (13-27 years of age). In January of 2025, Bad Bunny was the first mainly Latino recording pop-artist to have 100 songs make it to the Billboard Hot 100. Many people are excited to have someone represent Latin culture at the Super Bowl Halftime Show. 

“As one of the most influential and streamed artists in the world, his unique ability to bridge genres, languages, and audiences makes him an exciting and Natural Choice to take the Super Bowl Halftime stage,” Jon Barker, SVP of Global Event Production for the NFL said to northjersey.com.

Parents and other Superbowl viewers are also concerned about the vulgarity of Bad Bunny’s music and how much will be translated to the stage during the halftime show for the younger portion of the audience. 

“Even if you're not a football fan, the Super Bowl was once a unifying, family-friendly event,” Kari Lake said on NEWSMAX. “I’m starting to hear there’s some pushback with potentially some teams themselves saying ‘Can we find something a little more unifying for our country, that older generations and younger generations can all watch?’”

“For those who understand [him], I would hope that the commission invites him and encourages him to make excellent word choices, with the understanding that the youth are watching,” Ward said. “Yes it’s a family friendly event, but there have been less than savory family friendly moments in the Super Bowl before, so I think it would be a bit unfair to just put that on somebody because they’re Latino this time.”

Many people on social media, especially some NFL fans, are very vocal about them boycotting the Super Bowl Halftime Show, or even the Super Bowl in its entirety. 

"Need to start a petition to boycott the halftime show!!" a quote on yahoo!sports said. 

"Ok, still watch NFL football, still buy their merch….very sick and tired of Superbowl halftime entertainment not being anything I know or care for. This year I will be boycotting the Superbowl. Thanks for your attention to this matter," another quote on yahoo!sports said. 

“I think if you don't understand why he's doing it, then you are not the target audience he's trying to reach. Or, maybe you are and he's trying to get you to see the bigger picture. I also think there are more pressing concerns in the world than who's performing at a football show, we’re just taking so many steps backwards and for for you to look me in the eye to say your upset hes performing at the super bowl is gut wrenching to me, like why are we talking about football?” DeMato-Martinez said. “If he has a message, it's bound to reach someone. If you're upset about it, then you're probably one of the reasons why he didn't come to the U.S. to perform to begin with.”