Boldly controversial and stirring strong opinions, the choice of Bad Bunny as this year’s Super Bowl halftime performer has stirred heated debate. Former President Donald Trump didn’t hold back, calling the decision “absolutely ridiculous” in an interview with Newsmax’s Greg Kelly, expressing bewilderment over why the NFL would select a Spanish-speaking artist for such a high-profile event.
“I don’t even know who he is or the reasoning behind this,” Trump said candidly. “It’s just crazy.” He further dismissed the decision as something that resulted from a promoter’s influence, implying that the NFL wasn’t fully behind the choice.
Here’s where it gets controversial: the Super Bowl halftime show is chosen by the NFL in partnership with Apple Music and Roc Nation, Jay-Z’s entertainment company—a collaboration aimed at appealing to a wide and diverse audience.
Bad Bunny, a Puerto Rican superstar and three-time Grammy winner, was announced as the halftime headliner back in late September. His latest album, “Debí Tirar Más Fotos,” came out this January. Significantly, he is set to be the first Latin-American male to lead the Super Bowl halftime show, a milestone in the event’s history. Just recently, he also took on hosting duties for the season premiere of “Saturday Night Live,” showcasing his rising mainstream appeal.
Yet, the artist’s outspoken political stance fuels the fire. Earlier this year, Bad Bunny publicly criticized Trump’s immigration policies and revealed hesitations about touring in the continental U.S., fearing raids by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at his concert venues.
To add fuel to this controversy, only days after Bad Bunny’s halftime announcement, a Trump-era official declared that ICE agents would be present at the Super Bowl game set for February 8 in Santa Clara, California. Corey Lewandowski, a top advisor to Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, boldly stated on "The Benny Show" podcast that there is no sanctuary for undocumented immigrants—even at the Super Bowl. His warning was stark: "We will find you. We will apprehend you. We will detain and deport you."
Secretary Noem backed these tough comments on the same program, dismissing the NFL’s decision as a provocation against the Trump administration, stating, “They suck, and we’ll win, and God will bless us.”
The NFL has yet to comment in response to these political tensions.
On the other hand, local organizers in the Super Bowl host city expressed excitement about Bad Bunny’s selection. Zaileen Janmohamed, president and CEO of the Bay Area Host Committee, praised the choice, saying it will create an "unforgettable experience" at Levi’s Stadium and for viewers worldwide. She highlighted how this decision underscores the Bay Area’s reputation as a welcoming hub for global, top-tier events and said the show would celebrate the unique spirit and diversity of the region.
This clash of views raises several important questions: Does the Super Bowl halftime show reflect cultural progress by embracing Latin artists like Bad Bunny, or is it a polarizing move igniting political and social debates? How should national events balance entertainment choices with the political beliefs and histories of performers? And finally, should sports and entertainment platforms be arenas for political statements, or are they better left apolitical?
What do you think? We’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments—agree, disagree, or somewhere in between, your voice matters in this ongoing conversation about culture, politics, and America’s biggest stage.
