Ghali, Bad Bunny & Culture Wars: Language, Politics & the Super Bowl/Olympics Stage

The intersection of major sporting events and socio-political tensions is becoming increasingly pronounced.

Published on Feb. 8, 2026

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Recent ceremonies, like the opening of the Milan-Cortina 2026 Olympics and the Super Bowl halftime show, have become battlegrounds in ongoing culture wars. The presence of artists like Ghali and Bad Bunny highlights how language itself is becoming a focal point of these conflicts, with the exclusion of Arabic from the Olympic ceremony and criticism of Bad Bunny's Spanish-language performance demonstrating a discomfort with linguistic diversity. These incidents underscore the challenges faced by artists representing diverse cultural backgrounds and the deliberate attempts to control the narrative and exclude marginalized groups.

Why it matters

The politicization of cultural events reflects a broader trend of resistance to non-dominant languages and cultures, fueled by concerns about national identity and immigration. This creates a challenging environment where artistic expression is subject to political scrutiny and backlash, with event organizers navigating complex tensions between representation and appeasing conservative groups.

The details

The exclusion of Ghali, an Italian-Tunisian rapper, from the Olympic ceremony due to the inclusion of Arabic, and the preemptive criticism of Bad Bunny's Spanish-language performance at the Super Bowl halftime show, demonstrate how language is being used as a political statement. These incidents mirror a broader pattern of silencing voices deemed 'other' or 'foreign', as seen in previous controversies surrounding the Paris Olympics opening ceremony. Event organizers, like Roc Nation involved in the Super Bowl, are attempting to appeal to diverse audiences while navigating the political landscape, but this doesn't necessarily address the underlying issues.

  • The Milan-Cortina 2026 Olympics opening ceremony took place in February 2026.
  • The Super Bowl halftime show featuring Bad Bunny occurred in February 2026.

The players

Ghali

An Italian-Tunisian rapper who faced controversy surrounding the inclusion of Arabic in the Olympic ceremony, ultimately being excluded.

Bad Bunny

A Latin artist who performed largely in Spanish at the Super Bowl halftime show, which was preemptively criticized.

Roc Nation

An organization involved in the production of the Super Bowl halftime show, navigating the tensions between representation and appeasing conservative groups.

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What’s next

The politicization of cultural events is likely to intensify in the coming years, with increased scrutiny of artists and performers based on their identity and political views, greater pressure on event organizers to navigate complex political landscapes, and continued debates about representation, inclusion, and cultural appropriation.

The takeaway

The intersection of major sporting events and socio-political tensions highlights the challenges faced by artists representing diverse cultural backgrounds, as language and identity become battlegrounds in ongoing culture wars. Event organizers must navigate complex tensions between representation and appeasing conservative groups, underscoring the need for a more inclusive and equitable approach to cultural events.