Bad Bunny faced criticism over his upcoming performance at the Super Bowl halftime show. The Puerto Rican rapper, known for his popular tracks like “Soy Peor” and collaboration on Cardi B’s “I Like It,” was recently announced as the halftime show headliner. This historic moment of performing entirely in Spanish, celebrating Latino culture, has sparked backlash from some conservative figures.
During the season premiere of Saturday Night Live, where he served as host, Bad Bunny humorously acknowledged the excitement surrounding his halftime show performance, joking that even Fox News must be pleased. He delivered a message of Latino pride in Spanish, urging everyone to learn the language before the show.
Bad Bunny has been vocal about his opposition to U.S. President Donald Trump’s immigration policies. His social media posts and music videos have featured pro-immigrant messages, with some even mimicking the U.S. president’s voice to advocate for immigrant rights. In a recent world tour, he avoided performing in the U.S. due to concerns about ICE potentially targeting immigrants attending his shows.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, in a podcast interview with conservative commentator Benny Johnson, emphasized that ICE would be present at the Super Bowl for security purposes. Noem’s comments stirred controversy, with some interpreting them as targeting immigrants attending the event.
Critics, including Johnson and other conservative activists, lambasted the NFL’s choice of Bad Bunny for the halftime show, labeling it divisive and politically charged. Suggestions for alternative performers like rock band Creed or Kid Rock were proposed, while some went as far as calling Bad Bunny “demonic.”
The ongoing debate surrounding Bad Bunny’s performance at the Super Bowl was humorously acknowledged on SNL’s Weekend Update segment, poking fun at the idea of ICE agents attending the event to apprehend farm workers with Super Bowl tickets.