Bad Bunny fires back with culture and pride amid Super Bowl halftime criticism
The Conservatives are apparently not happy with the choice for the Super Bowl halftime show, but Bad Bunny is unfazed - happy to show pride for his country.
Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, better known as rapper/singer Bad Bunny, is headlining the Super Bowl 60 halftime show this February, and conservatives are not happy about it.
Bad Bunny is Puerto Rican and has extreme pride in his culture. He knows how to speak some English, but his songs are all in Spanish and he speaks Spanish the majority of the time as he’s said it’s how feels most comfortable. That, plus the fact that Bad Bunny has been a known critic of current U.S. president Donald Trump, has sparked some backlash.
Ken Paxton slams NFL over Bad Bunny halftime show pick
Among the offended Republicans is Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who suggested country music artist Jason Aldean instead, calling him a more “patriotic” option. Critics on social media slammed the decision, citing the Puerto Rican superstar’s political stances and lack of English-language songs.
This is Bad Bunny.
— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) September 29, 2025
He was just announced as the 2026 Super Bowl halftime show.
- Massive Trump hater
- Anti-ICE activist
- No songs in English
He even canceled his entire U.S. tour for this reason: “F***ing ICE could be outside my concert. And it’s something that we were… pic.twitter.com/11KvuSWnEH
Bad Bunny has consistently used his platform to speak out on politics, particularly regarding Puerto Rico and U.S. immigration. He was sharply critical of former President Donald Trump’s response to Hurricane Maria, especially Trump’s infamous paper towel toss during his visit to the island. In the 2024 election, Bad Bunny endorsed Kamala Harris, sharing her promise to support Puerto Rico’s economy and saying he’d “never forget” how Trump failed the island.
He previously allowed Joe Biden to use his music in 2020 campaign ads and has voiced opposition to Trump’s anti-immigration policies, even weaving criticism into his music videos. In one, he mocked Trump’s rhetoric by playing an audio clip of a “fake Trump” apologizing to immigrants, only for it to be cut off in disdain.
Bad Bunny has also linked U.S. immigration crackdowns to his career decisions.He has chosen not to perform any of his shows on his current tour in the United States, stating concerns that his Latino fans would be at risk of an ICE raid, saying it wasn’t out of “hate,” but out of fear for immigrant communities.
Beyond Trump, Bad Bunny has positioned himself as a progressive voice, winning GLAAD’s Vanguard Award for outspoken LGBTQ+ allyship and support for trans rights.
Tell your hating ass friends they can boycott the NFL again but just so they know this is where he got his stage name Bad Bunny . pic.twitter.com/4njGMdIjuQ
— Eighty One (@doobieshinstat) September 29, 2025
Meanwhile, Bad Bunny celebrated the honor, calling it a tribute to his culture and history, while Roc Nation’s Jay-Z praised the artist’s global impact. Despite the controversy, the NFL appears set on moving forward with Bad Bunny, who remains one of the most-streamed and influential performers in the world.
“It’s for those who came before me and ran countless yards so I could come in and score a touchdown,” Bad Bunny said in a statement released by the NFL. “This is for my people, my culture, and our history. Ve y dile a tu abuela, que seremos el HALFTIME SHOW DEL SUPER BOWL (Go and tell your grandmother that we’ll be the Super Bowl Halftime Show).”
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