Following the announcement that Bad Bunny would be next in line to perform the Super Bowl Halftime show, he has faced an enormous amount of criticism from social media users, right-wing politicians, and even the President of the United States himself.
The choice to pick a Latino artist who predominately speaks, raps, and sings in Spanish and has previously stood against the mass deportation of Latinos in America is not an incidental choice. It’s possible Bad Bunny chose to headline, or was picked to headline, the most televised event in America to send a political message.
However, Bad Bunny headlining is not a political message in itself, it just comes at a time when he represents something bigger than himself. In a tweet, the Puerto Rican singer and rapper even said: “This is for my people, for my culture, and our history.” He clearly knows and accepts his role as the most prominent Latino artist in the world, and uses his platform to bring attention to the struggles his community faces.
Possibly the biggest issue plaguing the Latino community in the US is ICE raids and the subsequent mass deportations since Trump returned to office in January. A study by Pew Research Center, a nonpartisan fact tank, found that Latinos in the U.S. worry more than other racial and ethnic groups about deportations.
Bad Bunny had previously said he skipped the U.S. during his tour this year, out of fear ‘ICE could show up outside’ of his concert, in an interview with I-D magazine in September.
As of January 2025, Bad Bunny has had 113 songs enter the Billboard Hot 100. He has also won 3 Grammy Awards and 11 Latin Grammy Awards.
Although, none of his achievements seem to matter to his staunch criticists. Turning Point USA, the late Charlie Kirk’s organisation, announced they will host their own ‘All-American Halftime Show’ that coincidentally airs the same night and time as Bad Bunny’s show. Donald Trump called the decision ‘absolutely ridiculous’.
It’s clear that the right-wing of America has taken Bad Bunny headlining the Super Bowl as an attack on the sanctity of the great American Game rather than just a smart business decision on behalf of the NFL.
Bad Bunny may not have intended to become a political messenger but he has nonetheless become one. There is no doubt he will use the platform he has been given to show support for his people and pay homage to his Puerto Rican culture like he has many times before.
Come 2026, some people will watch the Super Bowl Halftime stage with anticipation, some with hate, and some with pride. But there is no doubt that everyone will be watching.
Image Credit: Unsplash.com
