The NFL’s announcement of Latin rapper Bad Bunny as the halftime performer for Super Bowl LX in February 2026 has ignited widespread controversy.
Initial rumors had pointed to Adele as a top contender, fueled by reports that the British powerhouse had been approached for the gig amid speculation of a new album release, but she ultimately stepped away to focus on other commitments. Instead, the league selected the Puerto Rican rapper, whose real name is Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, who has hits like “Me Porto Bonito” and “Dákiti.” Bad Bunny, a three-time Grammy winner with 12 Latin Grammys, has built an empire on reggaeton and Latin trap, amassing billions of streams through Spanish-language music.
Bad Bunny’s outspoken leftist activism adds a layer of controversy to the NFL’s choice; he is a vocal critic of President Trump, frequently blasting the administration’s immigration policies in music videos and interviews. In his “NUEVAYoL” video, he mocked Trump’s rhetoric with a satirical apology from a Trump soundalike, emphasizing that America “is nothing without immigrants” like Mexicans, Dominicans, and Puerto Ricans. Bad Bunny has also led calls to resist ICE operations, posting footage of raids in Puerto Rico and slamming agents as “sons of bitches” for targeting communities. His stance prioritizes protecting illegal aliens—whom he views as essential to the nation’s fabric—over compliance with enforcement, leading him to boycott U.S. tour stops out of fear that ICE could raid venues and endanger fans.
Reactions to his Super Bowl booking are sharply divided: some Latino fans and music enthusiasts hail it as a historic win for cultural representation. Conversely, most voices decry the pick as politicizing the event, urging Bad Bunny to “stay out of politics” given his anti-Trump fervor, while some predict boycotts over his perceived prioritization of “illegal aliens.”
This is Bad Bunny.
He was just announced as the 2026 Super Bowl halftime show.
– Massive Trump hater
– Anti-ICE activist
– No songs in EnglishHe even canceled his entire U.S. tour for this reason: “F***ing ICE could be outside my concert. And it’s something that we were… pic.twitter.com/11KvuSWnEH
— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) September 29, 2025
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