Bad Bunny closed his historic Super Bowl LX halftime show with a unity message, but critics say the Spanish-only performance deeply divided the nation. President Trump called it one of the worst ever, while Tom Brady and other celebs praised the spectacle.
🔥 Quick Facts
- Performance Language: Show performed almost entirely in Spanish, ignoring 78% of U.S. households that speak English only
- Trump’s Response: Called the halftime show an “affront to the Greatness of America” and “one of the worst, EVER”
- Unity Message: Bad Bunny ended with “Together We Are America” displayed on the football while holding flags from every nation in the Americas
- Viewership Split: 6 million viewers chose Turning Point USA’s alternative “All-American” halftime show featuring Kid Rock instead
A Performance That Left Half the Country Frustrated
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Bad Bunny took center stage at Levi’s Stadium on February 8, 2026, delivering a visually stunning performance that became one of the most divisive Super Bowl moments in history. The Puerto Rican artist performed his entire set in Spanish, creating an immediate wall between millions of English-speaking viewers and the content on their screens. Critics immediately pointed out that without subtitles or English translation, the show excluded the vast majority of the American audience. Steven Van Zandt of the “Sopranos” and E Street Band stated, “No subtitles was a bad decision and an insult to the audience. Subtitles would have been countering division, having none encourages it.”
The performance featured elaborate set pieces depicting various professions with heavy immigrant representation, including sugar cane fields, food vendors, domino players, nail salon workers, and construction workers. This symbolism, clearly intentional by the anti-ICE pop star, sparked immediate political backlash from those who viewed the imagery as commentary on immigration policy.
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President Donald Trump, who announced before the game that he would skip watching the broadcast, launched a scathing attack immediately after the show concluded. In a Truth Social post, Trump fumed, “The Super Bowl Halftime Show is absolutely terrible, one of the worst, EVER! It makes no sense, is an affront to the Greatness of America, and doesn’t represent our standards of Success, Creativity, or Excellence.” He continued, “Nobody understands a word this guy is saying, and the dancing is disgusting, especially for young children.” Trump called the show “a slap in the face” to the country. Conservative influencers, lawmakers, and government officials piled on with their own criticism, with Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon calling the performance unacceptable. Florida GOP Representative demanded an FCC probe of NBC and the NFL, calling the show “grotesque, leftist garbage.”
Other critics highlighted the sexual lyrics performed for a family audience, with “Tití Me Preguntó” containing explicit references to promiscuity. Even toned down for television, many found the lyrics inappropriate for the 100 million viewers watching, including young children.
Controversial Imagery and Hidden Messaging
Bad Bunny wore a mock football jersey reading “Ocasio 64,” his real name paired with a number that drew uncomfortable comparisons to Hurricane Maria’s death toll. The sugar cane field setting and parading flags from all nations in the Americas created visual narratives that critics saw as political statements. Against a scoreboard displaying his Grammy speech quote, “The only thing more powerful than hate is love,” Bad Bunny spiked a football emblazoned with “Together We Are America,” reframing American identity to encompass all of Latin America. Lady Gaga’s surprise appearance to sing Bruno Mars’ “Die With a Smile,” also in Spanish, further excluded English-speaking audiences from understanding the collaboration.
Conservative commentators interpreted the performance as deliberately divisive. Jon Root wrote on X, “Bad Bunny will go down as the worst halftime show in the history of the league. America deserved better for its 250th birthday.” Kangmin Lee stated bluntly: “Call me crazy, but the Super Bowl Halftime Show, the most American moment on TV, should be in English.”
The Alternative Show That Stole Millions of Viewers
In response to the Bad Bunny controversy, Turning Point USA launched its own “All-American” halftime show during the NFL broadcast, drawing an impressive 6 million viewers. The alternative performance featured Kid Rock, Brantley Gilbert, Lee Brice, and Gabby Barrett, with a heavy focus on American patriotism and blue-collar values. This competing broadcast success demonstrated significant viewer dissatisfaction with Bad Bunny’s offerings. Hall of Famers Eric Dickerson and Brett Favre participated in the alternative show, lending their star power to what many conservatives viewed as the appropriate Super Bowl entertainment experience. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that President Trump would “much prefer a Kid Rock performance over Bad Bunny.”
The emergence of this competing halftime show revealed just how polarized American audiences had become about cultural messaging at America’s biggest sporting event.
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Not everyone opposed the performance. Athletic celebrities including JJ Watt shared mixed reactions, saying, “Did I understand a single word of it? I did not. Was it a vibe? It was.” Jalen Brunson of the New York Knicks expressed appreciation, tweeting “Thank you Benito” (using Bad Bunny’s real name). Donovan Mitchell celebrated enthusiastically, while personalities like Elmo enthusiastically praised the performance. Musician and commentator Michael McFaul countered the negativity, stating simply, “You all missed out. Bad Bunny was awesome.” NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell defended the choice, saying Bad Bunny is “one of the great artists in the world” and understood the platform’s purpose to unite people. Yet the sheer volume of criticism from mainstream conservatives, political figures, and evangelical viewers suggested that the performance’s supporters remained a distinct minority in the broader national conversation.
Mysteriously, Bad Bunny deleted his entire Instagram history immediately after the broadcast without explanation, perplexing his 52 million followers and leaving observers wondering whether the artist regretted aspects of the performance or faced pressure to distance himself from the controversy.
Sources
- New York Post: Detailed coverage of conservative and political backlash against the performance and its divisive symbolism
- Fox News: Comprehensive reporting on Trump’s statement, congressional criticism, and the alternative Turning Point USA halftime show
- BBC News: International perspective on Bad Bunny’s historic performance and global reaction
Jessica Morrison is a seasoned entertainment writer with over a decade of experience covering television, film, and pop culture. After earning a degree in journalism from New York University, she worked as a freelance writer for various entertainment magazines before joining red94.net. Her expertise lies in analyzing television series, from groundbreaking dramas to light-hearted comedies, and she often provides in-depth reviews and industry insights. Outside of writing, Jessica is an avid film buff and enjoys discovering new indie movies at local festivals.