Celebrities supported Bad Bunny on social media ahead of his Super Bowl LX halftime show performance on Sunday.
Why It Matters
The NFL’s pick of the Puerto Rican-born musician whose real name is Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, to headline the halftime show has drawn mixed reactions. He is one of the most popular musicians in the world, and his fans celebrated the pick as a highlight of cultural representation during the widely viewed halftime show. Critics, however, have opposed Bad Bunny’s performance due to his more political lyrics about immigration and colonialism.
In response to the halftime show, conservative group Turning Point USA organized a competing “All-American Halftime Show” headlined by Kid Rock, and a Change.org petition to replace Bad Bunny with country singer George Strait garnered over 100,000 signatures.
What to Know
Prominent celebrities including Cardi B and Madonna showed support for Bad Bunny ahead of the performance.
Kerry Washington shared support for Bad Bunny on Instagram, posting a photograph of herself with a Bad Bunny jersey, writing, “Benito Bowl is my #Superbowl anyone else?”
Two musicians who previously performed the halftime show gave him best wishes. Madonna, who performed the halftime show in 2012, shared an Instagram story backing the musician, writing “Go Bad Bunny.” Katy Perry, who performed the show in 2015, wrote on X, “you got this @sanbenito remind the world what the real American dream looks like.”
Cardi B, who has been speculated to be a potential guest during the performance, told the Associated Press she is “proud of everything that he’s been standing up for against ICE and everything.”
“It just feels like everything is aligned right now. It just shows how Hispanics, Latinos….We standing. They standing. We all standing,” she told the publication, adding it would be “exciting” to share the stage with him.
Ricky Martin praised Bad Bunny in an open letter published in Puerto Rican newspaper El Nuevo Dia earlier this month, reported Rolling Stone.
“I know what it means to succeed without letting go of where you come from. I know how heavy it is, what it costs, and what is sacrificed when you decide not to change because others ask you to. That’s why what you have achieved is not just a historic musical accomplishment, it’s a cultural and human victory. You won without changing the color of your voice. You won without erasing your roots. You won by staying true to Puerto Rico,” he wrote.
J Balvin told TMZ Sports he is supporting Bad Bunny and addressed concerns some viewers may not understand his lyrics, which are primarily in Spanish.
“I learned and grew up listening to hip-hop,” he said. “I didn’t know what they were saying. I would just vibe with it.”
Other celebrities wished him well when his performance was announced last year.
“And I’m so proud that Bad Bunny, who represents not only Latin culture but also how important Spanish language music has become on a global scale and how universal it has become, is getting to perform on the biggest stage in the world. It’s the perfect moment for a performance like this. I can’t wait to watch it,” Shakira told Variety.
Monica Garcia, who starred on The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City, celebrated his performance, writing to Instagram, “TEAM BAD BUNNY OVER HERE!!!!! LEEZZZZZZ GOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!”
Other celebrities have been critical of the decision.
“No songs in English should not be allowed at one of America’s highest rated television events of the year… not just for sports,” former NASCAR driver Danica Patrick wrote to X after he was announced as the performer.
Many conservative politicians have also responded with criticism. House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Louisiana Republican, referred to his performance as a “terrible decision,” reported Variety.
Hall of Fame NFL quarterback Brett Favre wrote on X that he will be watching the alternative halftime show but did not criticize Bad Bunny.
“Not familiar with Bad Bunny so don’t know if his music is good or bad. I’m just going to watch what I know Lee Brice, Kid Rock All-American Halftime Show,” he wrote.
What Bad Bunny, Donald Trump Have Said About Each Other
Bad Bunny has been outspoken about politics. He endorsed then-Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election.
He has frequently criticized Trump dating back to 2017, following the Trump administration’s widely scrutinized response to Hurricane Maria that struck Puerto Rico. He also opted against touring in the U.S. amid concerns about ICE.
“There was the issue of, like, f****** ICE could be outside [my concert],” he told i-D magazine. “And it’s something that we were talking about and very concerned about.”
He also took aim at the Trump administration’s immigration policies during a speech at the Grammy awards last week
“Before I say thanks to God, I’m gonna say: ICE out!” he said to an extensive applause from the audience. “We are not savage. We are not animals. We are not aliens, we are humans and we are Americans.”
Trump has not been supportive of Bad Bunny.
“I never heard of him. I don’t know who he is, I don’t know why they’re doing it, it’s like crazy…I think it’s absolutely ridiculous,” he said during an interview on Newsmax on October 6.
He also told the New York Post the decision to bring him onto headline the show was “terrible.”
“I’m anti-them. I think it’s a terrible choice. All it does is sow hatred. Terrible,” the president said.
What People Are Saying
Roger Goodell, NFL Commissioner, speaking to the press about Bad Bunny’s halftime performance after the Grammys: “This platform is used 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. And I think artists in the past have done that. I think Bad Bunny understands that, and I think he’ll have a great performance.”
California Governor Gavin Newsom’s press office wrote to X: “AS MANY PEOPLE KNOW, I AM A TREMENDOUS LOVER OF ‘THE SPANISH.’ IT IS A BEAUTIFUL LANGUAGE SPOKEN BY MANY BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE IN THE GREAT STATE OF CALIFORNIA AND ACROSS THE WORLD. I AM ALSO A HUGE FAN OF PUERRRRRRRTO RICO. THAT IS WHY I AM DECLARING TOMORROW IN CALIFORNIA AS ‘BAD BUNNY DAY’ WHEN BAD BUNNY PERFORMS AT THE BIG GAME IN THE GOLDEN STATE WITH HIS SOOTHING, BEAUTIFUL VOICE, AND HIS VERY NICE LOOKS. MANY PEOPLE CAN’T STOP TALKING ABOUT HIM ACCORDING TO MY ‘GUYS’ AND ‘GALS!’ (JESSE WATTERS IS OBSESSED WITH HIM ALMOST AS MUCH AS HE IS WITH ME!). WE LOVE BAD BUNNY! HE IS NEARLY AS ‘HOT’ AS ME, WHICH IS A BIG COMPLIMENT, BECAUSE THERE IS NOBODY ‘HOTTER.’ HAPPY BAD BUNNY DAY, AMERICA. ENJOY!!! —GOVERNOR GCN”
Turning Point USA spokesman Andrew Kolvet said in a statement: “The All-American Halftime Show is an opportunity for all Americans to enjoy a halftime show with no agenda other than to celebrate faith, family, and freedom. We set out to provide an entertainment option that will be fun, excellent, and exciting for the entire family while millions are gathered together for the big game. These performers will deliver exactly that, and we can’t wait to watch the incredible show they’re about to put on. We know millions around the country will be watching too.”
What Happens Next
The Super Bowl between the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots begins Sunday at 6:30 p.m. ET.
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