Topline
Bad Bunny, the Puerto Rican rapper-singer set to headline next year’s Super Bowl halftime show, stoked anger from right-wing commentators after the NFL announced he would take the massive stage in February, pointing to his frequent criticisms of President Donald Trump and his administration’s immigration raids.
Bad Bunny will take the stage at next year’s Super Bowl halftime show. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue)
Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue
Key Facts
The NFL announced late Sunday night Bad Bunny would headline music’s most lucrative gig, which typically draws more than 100 million viewers, at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, in February.
Benny Johnson, a right-wing Daily Wire commentator, slammed the musician in a post on X, calling him a “massive Trump hater” and an “anti-ICE activist” who has “no songs in English.”
Johnson criticized Bad Bunny for skipping the United States, aside from his native Puerto Rico, on his last tour, which the rapper previously said was because he feared Immigrations and Customs Enforcement would target his fans.
Jack Posobiec, a far-right activist and conspiracy theorist, criticized the choice of Bad Bunny and blamed “Barack Obama’s best friend Jay-Z,” whose entertainment company Roc Nation has an exclusive partnership with the NFL to produce the Super Bowl halftime show.
“End Wokeness,” a right-wing X account with 4 million followers, posted a picture of Bad Bunny wearing earrings and a dress to mock the musician, though he has often defied gender norms through his clothing.
Contra
California Gov. Gavin Newsom embraced Bad Bunny’s halftime gig, writing in a post on X: “California is excited to welcome you to Super Bowl LX.” The account for Newsom’s press office, which has in recent months focused on trolling Trump and Republicans, mocked Johnson in a post on X: “Benny calm down, we all know you listen to Bad Bunny lol 💅.”
How Political Is Bad Bunny?
Bad Bunny has long championed his Puerto Rican roots in his music and has frequently criticized the Trump administration over its immigration policies. In the lead-up to the 2024 election, Bad Bunny endorsed former Vice President Kamala Harris after comedian Tony Hinchcliffe called Puerto Rico a “floating island of garbage” at Trump’s Madison Square Garden rally. Days after Hinchcliffe’s comments, the musician posted a video on Instagram—simply captioned “garbage”—highlighting Puerto Rican culture, concluding with a message from the rapper that Puerto Ricans have been “fighting since day one of our existence, we are the definition of heart and resistance. Here we continue, here we are, and for those who forget who we are… rest assured, we proudly remind you.” On Independence Day, Bad Bunny released a music video for his song, “NUEVAYoL,” which features a faux Trump voice apologizing for his stance on immigration. “I want to apologize to the immigrants in America. I mean the United States. I know America is the whole continent,” the Trump-like voice says, adding, “this country is nothing without the immigrants.” The rapper also called ICE agents “motherf—ers” and “sons of bitches” in a video he posted to Instagram in June, which appeared to depict authorities detaining immigrants. Bad Bunny has also frequently advocated for LGBTQ rights, questioned gender norms and embraced feminine fashion. “What defines a man, what defines being masculine, what defines being feminine?” he said in a 2022 interview, stating: “To me, a dress is a dress.”
What Do We Know About Bad Bunny’s Halftime Show?
Bad Bunny will take the Super Bowl stage on Feb. 8. Little is known about the plans for his show, though he hinted he may honor his Puerto Rican heritage in a statement on Sunday. “What I’m feeling goes beyond myself. It’s for those who came before me and ran countless yards so I could come in and score a touchdown… this is for my people, my culture, and our history,” he said. Roc Nation chairman Jay-Z said in a statement: “What Benito has done and continues to do for Puerto Rico is truly inspiring. We are honored to have him on the world’s biggest stage.” The Super Bowl halftime show is music’s most lucrative gig and often gives headliners a big boost in music sales. Bad Bunny, a three-time Grammy winner, was Spotify’s most-streamed artist each year from 2020 to 2022 and has ranked in the top three since. He released his latest album, “Debí Tirar Más Fotos,” in January, reaching No. 1 on the Billboard charts.
Key Background
Bad Bunny’s upcoming halftime gig will take place one year after rapper Kendrick Lamar headlined the Super Bowl with what many viewers interpreted as a politically charged performance. Lamar used American imagery, such as dancers clad in red, white and blue forming an American flag, and guest star Samuel L. Jackson playing the role of Uncle Sam, to criticize racism in the United States. Smith College professor and poet Tiana Clark wrote in a New York Times column Lamar’s performance was “American symbolism through the lens of bold and unapologetic Blackness,” suggesting his popular song “Not Like Us” is a “diss track to America.” Lamar’s music has previously been praised by critics for tackling social issues, and in a song released in 2017, he slammed Trump as a “chump.”
Further Reading
Bad Bunny says ICE raids influenced his decision to skip U.S. tour (NBC News)
