Bad Bunny's Super Bowl Halftime Show Sparks Controversy

Conservative critics take issue with the Puerto Rican artist's selection, citing his Spanish-language music and political views

Published on Feb. 8, 2026

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Despite Bad Bunny being one of the biggest music stars in the world, his selection as the performer for the Super Bowl 60 halftime show has faced backlash from some conservative critics. The controversy seems to center around Bad Bunny's Spanish-language music, his Puerto Rican roots, and his vocal opposition to the Trump administration's immigration policies.

Why it matters

The halftime show has become a politically charged event, with the NFL's choice of performer often drawing criticism from those who want an artist that represents a certain version of America rather than the country's vibrant multicultural reality. This controversy highlights the ongoing cultural divides in the U.S. and the way sports and entertainment can become battlegrounds for political and ideological debates.

The details

When Bad Bunny was announced as the Super Bowl 60 halftime performer, some conservative figures and outlets criticized the choice, calling for the NFL to replace him with an artist like the 83-year-old Lee Greenwood. The criticism seems to stem from Bad Bunny's Spanish-language music, his Puerto Rican heritage, and his past comments opposing the Trump administration's immigration enforcement tactics. However, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has stood by the selection, saying Bad Bunny is "one of the great artists in the world" and that he understands the platform to "unite people."

  • Bad Bunny was announced as the Super Bowl 60 halftime performer in October 2025.
  • In October 2025, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell defended the selection of Bad Bunny.
  • In February 2026, Bad Bunny is scheduled to perform during the Super Bowl 60 halftime show.

The players

Bad Bunny

A Puerto Rican singer and rapper who is one of the most popular and influential music artists in the world, with the most streams on Spotify.

Roger Goodell

The Commissioner of the National Football League, who has defended the selection of Bad Bunny for the Super Bowl 60 halftime show.

Gracie Hunt

The heiress of the Kansas City Chiefs, who criticized Bad Bunny's selection for the halftime show on Fox News.

Mike Johnson

The House Speaker, who said he wished the NFL would have booked the 83-year-old Lee Greenwood instead of Bad Bunny.

Turning Point USA

A conservative organization that is putting together an online show to counter the official Super Bowl 60 halftime show featuring Bad Bunny.

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What they’re saying

“It's carefully thought through," Goodell said. "I'm not sure we've ever selected an artist where we didn't have some blowback or criticism. It's pretty hard to do when you have literally hundreds of millions of people that are watching.”

— Roger Goodell, NFL Commissioner (USA TODAY)

“Bad Bunny is, and I think that was demonstrated last night, one of the great artists in the world, and that's one of the reasons we chose him. But the other reason is he understood the platform he was on and that this platform is to use to unite people and to be able to bring people together with their creativity, with their talents, and to be able to use this moment to do that.”

— Roger Goodell, NFL Commissioner (USA TODAY)

What’s next

The Super Bowl 60 halftime show featuring Bad Bunny is scheduled to take place on February 9, 2026.

The takeaway

The controversy over Bad Bunny's Super Bowl halftime show selection highlights the ongoing cultural and political divides in the United States, where the choice of a popular, global artist can become a flashpoint for debates over language, identity, and the vision of America. However, the NFL remains committed to Bad Bunny's performance, seeing it as an opportunity to bring people together through music and creativity.