As Bad Bunny prepares for his historic halftime performance at the Super Bowl on Sunday at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., the spotlight is as much on the political firestorm surrounding his selection as it is on his music.
Bringing his chart-topping mix of Latin trap and reggaeton to the world stage, the Puerto Rican superstar will make history as the first Latin male artist to headline the show.
However, the road to Santa Clara has been marked by intense debate, centring on language, immigration and the artist’s vocal criticism of American political leadership.
When did the controversy begin?
Last September, the NFL announced Bad Bunny as the Super Bowl headliner. The choice immediately drew the ire of MAGA supporters and conservative figures, largely due to the singer’s history of criticizing Donald Trump’s policies and his choice to sing primarily in Spanish.
President Trump himself has been vocal about his disapproval. “I’m anti-them. I think it’s a terrible choice. All it does is sow hatred. Terrible,” Trump told the New York Post in January, referring to Bad Bunny and Green Day, who will also perform on Sunday.
For Bad Bunny, the performance is deeply personal. In the initial announcement about his performance, he said “What I’m feeling goes beyond myself … this is for my people.”
Notably, the Super Bowl will be Bad Bunny’s only U.S. performance this year, as he chose to exclude American stops from his world tour — a decision he previously linked to political tensions. “F — king ICE could be outside [my concert]. And it’s something that we were talking about and very concerned about,” he told I-D magazine.
The most significant escalation came from U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem. In an interview with right-wing podcaster Benny Johnson, Noem vowed that ICE agents would have a heavy presence at the stadium.
“We’ll be all over that place. We’re going to enforce the law,” Noem said, adding, “I think people should not be coming to the Super Bowl unless they’re law-abiding Americans who love this country.”
What did Bad Bunny say on Saturday Night Live?
The singer addressed the backlash during his SNL hosting gig last October. In a sharp opening monologue, he mocked the obsession conservative media has with his career, including a montage of Fox News anchors “praising” him in an edited clip.
He ended the monologue by thanking his fans in Spanish, then told the audience in English, “If you don’t understand what I just said, you have four months to learn.”
In January, Bad Bunny won three Grammys, including a history-making win for Album of the Year for “Debí Tirar Más Fotos (I Should Have Taken More Photos),” the first time a Spanish-language album has ever claimed the top prize.
The singer’s acceptance speech served as a direct rebuttal to the rhetoric surrounding his Super Bowl set. “Before I say thanks to God, I’m gonna say: ICE out!” he told the crowd. “We’re not savage, we’re not animals, we’re not aliens. We are humans and we are Americans.”
Who is Bad Bunny (for those who don’t already know)?
Born Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, Bad Bunny is one of the world’s most-streamed artists. His 2022 album “Un Verano Sin Ti” became the most streamed album in Spotify history, and he was Spotify’s most globally streamed artist three years in a row (2020-2022).
The rapper and singer-songwriter has fans around the globe. His five-album discography spans everything from sincere ballads — like “DtMF” (an acronym for his latest album “DeBí TiRAR MáS FOToS,” meaning “I should’ve taken more photos”) — to boisterous, trap-heavy hits like “Tití Me Preguntó” (“Auntie asked me”), in which he lists the many women he spends time with. There’s something for everyone in his genre-blending sound.
Earlier this year, his 30-day No Me Quiero Ir De Aquí (“I Don’t Want to Leave Here”) residency in Puerto Rico drew over half a million fans and infused an estimated $733 million into the local economy.
Bad Bunny also has quite the trophy cabinet. Among his accolades: three Grammys, three American Music Awards and four Billboard Music Awards. In 2022, he was named Artist of the Year by both Billboard and Apple Music.
His talents extend beyond music. He starred alongside Brad Pitt in David Leitch’s 2022 film “Bullet Train,” playing a stylish, vengeance-fueled assassin dubbed The Wolf. He’s also stepped into the WWE ring multiple times, even winning the 24/7 Championship in 2021 (before graciously returning the title).
How does the 2026 halftime show compare to past Super Bowls?
The Super Bowl is consistently one of the most-watched television events of the year.
In 2025, Kendrick Lamar and his red, white, and blue crew drew 133.5 million viewers — seven and a half million more than the game itself.
In 2023, Rihanna made her musical comeback on the NFL’s stage, announcing her second pregnancy to an audience of 121 million.
Other past headliners include Beyoncé, Madonna, Prince and Toronto’s own The Weeknd.
When and where is Super Bowl LX?
Super Bowl 60 (Roman numeral: LX) takes place on Sunday, Feb. 8 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., home of the San Francisco 49ers.
The halftime show will be produced by Apple Music and Jay-Z’s Roc Nation.
How can Canadians watch?
Canadian viewers will be able to watch the game and halftime show on CTV, TSN, and DAZN. The Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots face off starting at 6:30 p.m. EST.
