Bad Bunny has drawn the ire of politicians and pundits alike following the announcement that he would be performing during the Super Bowl 60 halftime show.
The Puerto Rican supernova is perhaps the world's most famous artist. That isn't enough to make him a viable option in the eyes of some, namely those who support President Donald Trump.
Trump had his say on the topic of Bad Bunny performing at the event during an interview with Newsmax's Greg Kelly on Oct. 6.
“I don’t know who he is. I don’t know why they’re doing it -- it’s, like, crazy,” Trump said. “They blame it on some promoter they hired to pick up entertainment. I think it’s absolutely ridiculous.”
Bad Bunny's animus towards Trump's immigration policy -- including opting against placing any stops in the continental United States on his latest world tour amid concerns ICE would raid venues -- has brought him plenty of admirers. But the open antagonism towards the 31-year old has left some wondering whether Bad Bunny will be left off the Super Bowl's halftime marquee entirely.
Here's what you need to know.
MORE: Why Bad Bunny was named headline performer for 2026 Super Bowl
Who is Bad Bunny?
Bad Bunny, born Benito Antonio Martinez Ocasio, is a Puerto Rican performer who has drawn rave reviews from critics and fans alike throughout his glistening career.
The 31-year old is one of the most popular musicians in the world, drawing more than 80 million monthly listeners on Spotify alone. He has released six albums thus far, most to critical acclaim. His most recent project, " Debí Tirar Más Fotos", was released in January 2025. Predictably, the house and reggaeton record surged to No. 1 on the Billboard charts, becoming Bad Bunny's fourth album to garner such recognition.
A three-time Grammy Award winner, Bad Bunny is one of the most recognizable faces in the industry. He has hosted "Saturday Night Live" on three occasions and recently made an appearance in "Happy Gilmore 2."
Bad Bunny also is a sports fanatic, having taken part inthe NBA and MLB Celebrity All-Star Games, respectively. His global appeal and sports fandom made him an ideal candidate to land the gig, according to Jay-Z, whose entertainment company, Roc Nation, helps the NFL select its halfitme performer.
"What Benito has done and continues to do for Puerto Rico is truly inspiring," he said in the NFL's release. "We are honored to have him on the world's biggest stage."
Why is Bad Bunny controversial for Super Bowl 60?
Bad Bunny is arguably the biggest artist in the world. He also has experience performing under the Super Bowl's banner, having lended his voice to Shakira and Jennifer Lopez when the two headlined the Super Bowl 54 spectacle.
The Latin superstar is at the peak of his career, becoming the first musical act of the year to surpass 7 billion Spotify streams in 2025. But his politics have put him at odds with conservative crowds, many of whom have declared that he shouldn't be allowed to perform at the event.
Bad Bunny has been vocal about his distaste of President Donald Trump in the past. In 2017, while performing at the Somos Live benefit concert -- held to raise money for disaster relief -- Bad Bunny sported a T-Shirt emblazoned with "¿Tu eres twitero o presidente?” (“Are you a tweeter or president?”) He also called out Trump with vulgarities in a 2020 song.
Bad Bunny, a proud Puerto Rican whose heritage flows through his music, publicly supported Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris in 2024.
All of that is to say, Bad Bunny has drawn the ire of right-wingers across the country. He opted against performing in the U.S. for his latest world tour, citing concern over protecting migrant crowdgoers.
“ICE could be outside. And it’s something that we were talking about and very concerned about,” he said in an interview with i-D magazine.
Are Cowboys boycotting Bad Bunny?
While internet rumors may suggest otherwise, the Dallas Cowboys are not, in fact, boycotting Bad Bunny. The rumor appears to have emerged from a sports page operating out of Vietnam, per Yahoo (via Lead Stories). Similar rumors have been made regarding singer Bob Seger, who is alleged to petition the NFL
There is no tangible reporting suggesting that Dallas is barring Bad Bunny from its games or events.
Bad Bunny SNL monologue
Bad Bunny delivered another rebuke towards the Trump administration while reciting his monologue ahead of his third hosting appearance on SNL. This one happened to include a Spanish segment, one which saw Bad Bunny express excitement over performing the Super Bowl for "all the Latinos and Latinas across the world, and here in the United States.
"I'm very excited to be doing the Super Bowl, and I know that people all around the world who love my music are also happy," Bad Bunny told the audience in English, before switching to his native Spanish: "Especially all the Latinos and Latinas across the world, and here, in the United States, all those who have worked to open doors," he said.
“It’s more than an achievement for myself, it’s an achievement for all of us," the Grammy-winning musician said, as the audience burst into applause. "It shows our footprint, and our contribution to this country, that no one will ever be able to take away or erase."
He suggested that those who don't understand Spanish yet spend the next four months learning, recommending they use "ChatGPTío" for help.
Eric Dickerson's Bad Bunny comments
Pro Football Hall of Famer Eric Dickerson expressed dismay at the decision to select Bad Bunny for the NFL's grandest spectacle, even as he acknowledged he didn't know who the artist was.
"I'm from the U.S.," Dickerson told TMZ. "I love my country. And if you don't like the United States, just get your a-- out of here and don't come over here."
Puerto Rico is technically a U.S. territory, having remained under colonial control of the United States since the Spanish-American War. Some Puerto Ricans have expressed a desire to be fully incorporated into the United States as a 51st state, although the pursuit for independence and sovereignty from imperial powers has remained among large segments of the island's 3.2 million-person population. A recent poll conducted by Rayos X and the Universidad del Sagrado Corazon revealed that young Puerto Ricans seek sovereignty -- be that through independence or free association.
Dickerson added that he didn't consider Puerto Rico a part of the U.S. He also claimed that if Bad Bunny had any criticism of the country, he shouldn't be allowed to perform.
"If Bad Bunny said something about the U.S., don't come here and perform,' Dickerson said. "You know, don't come here."
"Stay in your country."
Bad Bunny's Yankees game
Amid all the clamor over the prospect of him crooning at Super Bowl 60, Bad Bunny had enough time to stop at Yankee Stadium and catch Game 3 of the New York Yankees' series vs. the Toronto Blue Jays.
He snagged a foul ball -- albeit it bounced off a fellow spectators hands before falling into his lap.
Bad Bunny got a foul ball at the Blue Jays-Yankees game tonight 😭 pic.twitter.com/hllzNix74p
— MLB (@MLB) October 8, 2025
Did NFL cancel Bad Bunny halftime show?
Bad Bunny's prior comments regarding his Latinidad identity and distaste for Trump's politics has made him a lightning rod for criticism among conservative pundits. In fact, social media has been rife with rumors that the NFL will cancel his performance.
That rumor is categorically false. However, it is likely to persist in the weeks and months to come.
Where is Bad Bunny from?
Bad Bunny hails from Bayamon, Puerto Rico. He was raised in the Almirante Sur barrio of Vega Baja, Puerto Rico. His childhood was filled with salsa, merengue, pop and reggaeton -- including Vito C's iconic album, "Aquel Qu Habia Muerto."
Is Bad Bunny an American citizen
As a resident of Puerto Rico, Bad Bunny is, indeed, an American citizen. Those claiming that he should "go back to his country" are ostensibly telling him to go back to America.
Does Bad Bunny have songs in English?
Bad Bunny has yet to produce an English-language song. Assuming he continues that trend, he will likely perform entirely in Spanish during Super Bowl 60.
Despite opting against using English in songs, Bad Bunny is fluent in the language. He routinely uses it during interviews with English-speaking publications.