NFL defends decision to book Bad Bunny for SuperBowl
The National Football League (NFL) has reaffirmed its selection of Puerto Rican superstar Bad Bunny to headline the halftime show of the SuperBowl in April 2026 in light of backlash from Republicans.
The news was shared last month and was met with much criticism from the Trump administration. President Trump said of the decision, “I never heard of him, I don’t know who he is, I don’t know why they’re doing it, it’s like, crazy.”
The musician, whose real name is Benito Antonio Ocasia, performs entirely in Spanish, which has irked those connected to the administration. He has also spoken out against the ongoing ICE raids, and admitted last month that it was the reason why he chose to avoid performing in the US on his ongoing world tour.
Despite the sociopolitical turmoil, the NFL commissioner, Roger Goodell, backed the decision, sharing via The Hollywood Reporter, “He’s one of the leading and most popular entertainers in the world. That’s what we try to achieve. It’s an important stage for us. It’s an important element to the entertainment value, and it’s carefully thought through.”
He then gestured to the backlash the decision has received, adding, “I’m not sure we’ve ever selected an artist where we didn’t have some blowback and criticism. It’s pretty hard to do.”
When asked whether the league is considering any changes to the show, Goodell stated, “I am not saying that there won’t be additional talent that might be involved, but that’s always the way it works.”
However, he reminded viewers that the Super Bowl halftime shows often welcome surprise guests to the short set. For example, last year’s show with Kendrick Lamar also included appearances from SZA, Serena Williams, and Samuel L Jackson.
At the time of the initial decision, the musician expressed his joy at the decision. Bad Bunny said in a statement, “What I’m feeling goes beyond myself. It’s for those who came before me and ran countless yards so I could come in and score a touchdown. This is for my people, my culture and our history. Ve y dile a tu abuela, que seremos el Halftime Show Del Super Bowl.”
Since, he has used a monologue on Saturday Night Live to poke fun at the criticism that has come his way in recent days. “I’m very happy. And I think everyone is happy about it. Even Fox News,” he said with a smile during his monologue.
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