Puerto Rican rapper and Grammy-winning performer Bad Bunny has become the focus of political and cultural debate following confirmation that his Super Bowl halftime show will be performed entirely in Spanish.
The 30-year-old artist, whose real name is Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, was announced as the headliner for the Super Bowl LX halftime show, set to take place in February at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California.
The event will mark the first time the National Football League has featured a halftime performance conducted completely in a non-English language, according to Rolling Stone.
The decision quickly generated mixed reactions online and among political commentators.
Supporters celebrated the milestone for Latino representation on one of America’s biggest entertainment stages, while critics questioned the choice to exclude English entirely from a performance during a major national broadcast.
Among those expressing disapproval was Trump adviser Corey Lewandowski, who reportedly criticized the plan and questioned whether the decision aligned with the values of an event watched by tens of millions of Americans each year.
South Dakota Gov. and current Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem also addressed the controversy, saying immigration enforcement officers would be present at the event.
During an interview on The Benny Show, Noem said her department had a duty to ensure that “everybody goes to the Super Bowl, has the opportunity to enjoy it and to leave, and that’s what America’s about.”
She added, “So yeah, we’ll be all over that place. We’re going to enforce the law.”
Noem went on to say that “people should not be coming to the Super Bowl unless they’re law-abiding Americans who love this country,” appearing to connect the halftime show controversy with ongoing concerns about border security and immigration enforcement.
The remarks drew widespread attention across social media and cable news, adding a political dimension to what is traditionally one of the most-watched musical events in the world.
Bad Bunny responded to the backlash during his appearance on Saturday Night Live, where he served as both host and musical guest.
In his opening monologue, the artist appeared to mock his critics, telling the audience that “everyone is happy” about his upcoming halftime show — “even Fox News.”
He then played a montage featuring clips edited together to make several Fox News hosts appear to say: “Bad Bunny. Is. My favorite. Musician. And he should be the next. President.”
The crowd responded with laughter and applause.
The segment quickly circulated online, amassing millions of views on social media platforms within hours of the broadcast.
Bad Bunny also addressed the ongoing debate about language, referencing viewers who might not understand Spanish.
“If you didn’t understand what I just said,” he told the audience, “you have four months to learn.”
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The rapper has been outspoken on political and social issues in the past.
During a previous world tour, he stated that his performances skipped several mainland U.S. cities due to immigration policies enacted under President Donald Trump.
Although he has not issued any further statements since his SNL appearance at the time of this writing, the controversy has continued to grow across online platforms, with both fans and political figures weighing in.
As of this week, the NFL has not released any comment or clarification on the halftime show’s format or language content.
League officials have also not indicated whether English subtitles, bilingual elements, or collaborations with other artists will be added to the performance.
The Super Bowl halftime show has long been a focal point of American pop culture, drawing an audience that often exceeds 100 million viewers worldwide.
Past performers have included global artists such as Usher, Rihanna, Shakira, Jennifer Lopez and Beyoncé.
