The Super Bowl Halftime Show has just become the latest political flashpoint — and this time, Bad Bunny is at the center of it.
While Capitol Hill remains gridlocked amid a tense government shutdown, Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson took a detour from legislative drama to slam the NFL's choice of Bad Bunny as next year’s halftime headliner. Following a similar line to former President Donald Trump, Johnson didn’t hold back — he labeled the decision a “terrible” one and openly admitted he’d never heard of the 31-year-old global superstar before this week.
"Well, it sounds like he’s not someone who appeals to a broader audience," Johnson said, despite Bad Bunny’s record-breaking career. The Puerto Rican artist — born Benito — is the first Latin musician to score 100 career Billboard Hot 100 entries, the first to land an all-Spanish album (2020’s El Último Tour Del Mundo) at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, and he’s tied with Taylor Swift for the most Billboard Global 200 chart-toppers among solo acts. His 2022 album Un Verano Sin Ti remains the most-streamed album in Spotify’s history, and he’s topped the platform’s global artist charts for three consecutive years, boasting 80 million monthly listeners.
Beyond streaming dominance, Bad Bunny’s 31-date No Me Quiero Ir de Aquí residency at Puerto Rico’s Coliseo shattered the venue’s sales records, while the livestream of his final show became Amazon Music’s most-watched performance ever.
But Johnson’s issue isn’t just about music taste. He pointed to the Super Bowl’s massive family audience, noting that "lots of young, impressionable children" tune in — and suggested someone "more unifying" for the job. His ideal halftime performer? 82-year-old country star Lee Greenwood, best known for the 1984 anthem "God Bless the U.S.A." Greenwood, a favorite of Trump, hasn’t put out an album since 2003 but recently performed at major Republican events, including the 2024 GOP convention.
Trump, for his part, also claimed ignorance of Bad Bunny, telling NewsMax he’d "never heard of him" and mistakenly calling him "Bad Bunny Rabbit." He slammed the choice as “crazy” and targeted Jay-Z and Roc Nation — the team behind halftime bookings — for what he called a "ridiculous" decision. Trump’s former campaign manager Corey Lewandowski went further, branding the pick “shameful,” accusing Bad Bunny of harboring anti-American sentiment, and even suggesting ICE agents would be deployed at the Super Bowl in Santa Clara.
This criticism comes despite Puerto Rico being a U.S. territory and Bad Bunny’s openly proud cultural representation. Still, the artist has been vocal against Trump-era ICE raids in Puerto Rico, a stance that fuels conservative pushback. Another sticking point for critics: his intention to perform mainly in Spanish.
Hosting Saturday Night Live last weekend, Bad Bunny leaned into the controversy. “I’m doing the Super Bowl Halftime Show, and I’m very happy. I think everyone is happy about it — even Fox News,” he joked, before delivering a heartfelt message in Spanish about representing his community. Switching back to English, he added playfully, “If you didn’t understand what I just said, you have four months to learn!”
This isn’t just about a concert — it’s about culture, politics, and who gets to define ‘mainstream’ America. Should the biggest stage in sports cater to existing pop chart dominance, even if the performance is in Spanish? Or should it reflect a more traditional, English-speaking vision of Americana? The Super Bowl may still be months away, but the halftime show debate has already begun. What’s your take — cultural milestone or misplaced choice?
