Bad Bunny’s eagerly awaited Super Bowl halftime show concluded with the Puerto Rican rapper showcasing a pro-immigration message inscribed on a football, amid criticism for delivering a subpar performance in a language many viewers don’t grasp.
The show featured a vibrant Latin theme, complete with numerous dancers executing Latin-infused choreography in a lush, tropical atmosphere. Guest appearances included singers Ricky Martin and Lady Gaga.
The rapper, whose real name is Benito Antonio Martinez Ocasio, is known for his left-leaning, anti-Trump stance and performed solely in Spanish, keeping to his promise. He concluded his performance with a political statement.
As he wrapped up the NFL halftime show, he held up a football bearing the words “Together We Are America.”
This clearly political message aligns well with his recent advocacy for pro-immigration efforts and anti-ICE sentiments.
For many, Bad Bunny’s performance didn’t quite hit the mark.
Former President Trump was a notable critic, using his Truth Social account to express his discontent with the show.
“The Super Bowl halftime show is utterly terrible, one of the worst I’ve ever seen! It lacks coherence, is an insult to American achievement, and fails to reflect our standards of creativity and success. Hardly anyone can decipher what he’s saying, and the dancing is appalling, especially for children watching from across America and beyond,” he commented. “This ‘show’ is simply disrespectful to our nation, which is achieving remarkable milestones every day. There’s no inspiration in this chaotic halftime show. It will likely receive glowing reviews from the mainstream media, who seem out of touch with reality. Seriously, the NFL should consider scrapping this ridiculous show immediately,” he added.
Many others shared similar sentiments.
Conservative commentator Matt Walsh criticized the performance for being delivered in a language that most football fans may not understand.
“Presenting the halftime show of the biggest game in your life in a language that your long-time fans hardly understand—while waving the flag of your homeland—is the most disrespectful thing I’ve seen a company do to its audience,” he stated.
Sports entrepreneur Clay Travis also commented on the absence of English in the broadcast, questioning, “Would any other nation feature its signature cultural event in a foreign language? I have no clue what unfolded.”
Interestingly, the choice to conduct the show mainly in Spanish sparked significant debate among viewers.
