When the NFL announced Puerto Rican artist Bad Bunny would headline the 2026 Super Bowl halftime performance, it brought on many mixed opinions. The critics argue his appearance is shameful to traditional American culture because he sings mostly in Spanish, is well known to support left-wing politics, and seems not “American” enough for a national audience.
President Donald Trump criticized the decision by saying, “I’ve never heard of him. I don’t know why they’re doing it; it’s, like, crazy.” Previous race car driver Danica Patrick likewise said that, “No songs in English should not be allowed,” which means that national events should only welcome English-speaking performers.
Nevertheless, many students and young fans come to his defense against these kinds of criticisms.
Sophomore Nicholas Quiroz supports the NFL’s decision.
“I don’t think language should be a problem. His music is listened to by millions of people.”
Bad Bunny himself spoke to the criticism in an appearance on Saturday Night Live:
“I’m very happy, and I think everyone is happy about it—even Fox News,” he said, before continuing in Spanish. “It’s more than an achievement for myself; it’s an achievement for all of us. If you didn’t understand what I just said, you have four months to learn.”
One of the biggest arguments people are making against Bad Bunny is referencing his statement of why he didn’t tour in the US. Many highlighted his safety concerns for Latino fans given the possibility of ICE raids.
Football fan, Matteo Miller fully understands the controversy.
” I have a feeling there is a group of people only upset because they weren’t able to see him live because he didn’t do concerts here in the US, and now he’s preforming in the Super Bowl. It’s kinda hypocritical of him.”
In the end, the criticism of Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl performance shows a bigger debate about representation and diversity in America. Some people think choosing him was a bad decision, but many students and fans see it differently. For them, his performance is an important step toward showing more diversity on one of the country’s biggest stages.
