Bad Bunny Responds to Conservative Backlash Over Super Bowl Performance
Puerto Rican singer-songwriter Bad Bunny seems to be relishing the criticism from conservatives following his announcement as a performer for the Super Bowl Halftime Show this NFL season.
During his second appearance on NBC’s Saturday Night Live, he revealed his role as the headliner for Super Bowl LX and expressed how “very happy” he was to see the reactions.
The backlash from conservative commentators mainly targets his political views and the fact that most of his songs are in Spanish. Additionally, Bad Bunny has mentioned that he won’t tour in mainland U.S. due to concerns about federal immigration enforcement potentially targeting his fans.
In light of his halftime show announcement, Corey Lewandowski, an adviser to the Department of Homeland Security, made remarks on a podcast where he stated that the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency (ICE) will be present at the 2026 Super Bowl.
“It’s quite embarrassing that they chose someone who seems to have a distaste for America to represent them at the halftime show,” Lewandowski commented.
He further stated, “I don’t care if it’s a concert with Johnny Smith or Bad Bunny. We’re going to enforce everything everywhere to ensure Americans’ safety.” He emphasized that if someone is illegally in the country, they should “go home.”
White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt noted on Friday that there were “no specific plans” for ICE officers to attend the game. However, Homeland Security Secretary Christie Noem made statements declaring that department officials would indeed be present, implying that the NFL “can’t sleep at night” over the choice of the Puerto Rican artist.
“We’re going to enforce the law,” she told conservative podcaster Benny Johnson. “I don’t think people should come to the Super Bowl unless there are Americans who love this country and abide by its laws.”
While Bad Bunny didn’t mention the potential presence of ICE agents in his SNL monologue, he did take a moment to speak in Spanish, expressing gratitude to Latinos worldwide and to those in the U.S. who “worked to open the doors.” He added, “No one can erase or take away our mark and our contribution to this country.”
His closing remarks included a challenge, saying, “If you don’t understand what I just said, you have four months to learn.”
The Super Bowl is scheduled for February 8, 2026, in Santa Clara, California.
