Not politics, just Prime Time: The NFL’s Super Bowl play with Bad Bunny
The NFL has left conservatives in a rage over their decision to have Bad Bunny host the Super Bowl halftime show, but once it dies down, the NFL still wins.
During Sunday Night Football last week, the NFL announced that Puerto Rican rapper/singer Bad Bunny will be performing at this year’s Super Bowl halftime show. The Trump-lovers were immediately offended by the decision.
Triggered? The NFL’s Bad Bunny bet isn’t about politics...
The league’s choice of Bad Bunny for the Super Bowl LX halftime show has sparked backlash from conservative commentators, who accuse the league of pushing a cultural agenda by spotlighting an openly anti-Trump, Spanish-language artist.
“This isn’t about music, it’s about putting a guy on stage who hates Trump and MAGA,” conservative filmmaker Robby Starbuck wrote on social media.
But the reality is simpler: the NFL is in the business of drawing the widest possible audience, not playing culture warrior.
Bad Bunny’s global popularity, streaming dominance, and proven mainstream appeal - especially with younger fans - make him a safe bet to deliver one of the biggest cultural moments of the year. Much like when Kendrick Lamar headlined and broke viewership records despite political grumbling, the NFL’s move shows its focus on entertainment and reach rather than ideological signaling.
Ultimately, the outrage is likely to fade, leaving only another high-profile halftime show that highlights just how well the league stays plugged into the cultural moment while keeping its eyes firmly on the bottom line.
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