Mixed Reactions to Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl Halftime Show
Bad Bunny’s performance during the Super Bowl halftime show has stirred up quite a bit of discussion, and some comments have been, well, quite surprising. For instance, the Washington Post characterized his sexually charged lyrics and provocative dance moves as “wholesome” and even celebrated its “family values.”
Jeff Bezos, who owns the show, rated it a “solid 3” on a scale of 1 to 10 for provocativeness—where 1 is the uninteresting halftime performance by Up with People in 1982, and 10 is Justin Timberlake’s notorious “wardrobe malfunction” in 2004.
The Post expressed enthusiasm, saying, “Generally, the show embodies healthy, traditional family values that align perfectly with the sentimental commercials aired during the game.” This enthusiastic take left many viewers scratching their heads.
One commenter on X remarked incredulously, “But calling it healthy is nothing but gaslighting.”
Bad Bunny, whose real name is Benito Antonio Martinez Ocasio, kicked off his set with “Titty Me Preganto,” a track that dominated the Latin Billboard charts for 14 weeks.
The song, which shares explicit themes, includes lines about his various romantic conquests and boasts about his desirability, suggesting a certain brand of “family values.” For instance, he expresses desires for both intimacy and novelty, saying, “I’m tired of it, I want a brand new ass today.”
Another song he performed, titled “Party,” tells the tale of a lonely girl finding joy in a night out, with lyrics implying a racy courtship—”She wanna grind and get high, I’ll spank that ass whenever you want.”
The reactions to the Post’s article were swift, with many users accusing the publication of misrepresentation. One person even questioned, “Is this some kind of parody?”
The Post further elaborated on the performance, likening it to beloved children’s literature, suggesting it had a similar vibe to a “Sesame Street” reggaeton remix or a whimsical blend of Richard Scarry’s illustrations, but many viewers saw the irony in that description.
They proclaimed that the performance contained as much risqué dancing as the film “Dirty Dancing” but still managed to earn a PG rating—missing some of the more explicit lyrics in an earlier performances.
Another performance highlight was “Safaela,” where Bunny rapped lines no one could label as subtle.
Highlighting his Latin roots, the Post described Bad Bunny’s halftime show as a “vivid depiction of Latin American life,” which seemed to lose some of its credibility given the nature of the lyrics.
Among the imagery, dancers portrayed various jobs that reflect stereotypes, while notable professions like doctors or teachers were conspicuously absent.
As reactions unfolded, the Post’s article accumulated nearly 6 million views, flooding with comments and GIFs from viewers who disagreed with the interpretation. Some viewers quipped, “Bezos needs to lay off more people,” raising eyebrows at the take on “family entertainment.”
Lastly, it’s worth mentioning that the Spanish-only performance aired without English subtitles, which could have left some audiences in the dark.
