The NFL’s decision for Bad Bunny to headline the 2026 Super Bowl halftime show has faced intense backlash from both viewers and the US government. The Puerto Rican three-time Grammy winner will perform the halftime show set primarily in Spanish, which some viewers argued fails to represent the American nature of the event.

“I was so happy when I heard Bad Bunny would be the 2026 Super Bowl halftime show performer,” Leilani Rodriguez (10), Bad Bunny fan and Spanish speaker, said. “I love Bad Bunny and I think it is going to be really interesting to see the audience’s reaction to the songs, because most of the audience does not really know Spanish.”

Some celebrated the decision as a recognition of Latino culture, particularly in the US. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell defended his choice, maintaining that the decision was due to the popularity of the singer. Jennifer Lopez, a Latino American who performed at the 2020 Super Bowl halftime show—albeit in English—also showed support for Bad Bunny during her appearance on the Today show.

“I am excited about it,” Alaina Ramey, English teacher and NFL fan, said. “I think it will be a really interesting show. I do not think you have to know all the lyrics to have fun. The United States is not just an English-speaking country—we have a lot of Spanish speakers—so I think maybe more people will tune into the NFL to see Bad Bunny perform because of that. There is a saying that knowing someone else’s language is a way of connection.” 

This has become a point of dispute for several viewers, who pointed out that an English-speaking singer may be more appropriate for such a mainstream American event. A petition to replace the singer with a more “American” artist recently reached 100,000 signatures. 

Some critics also interpreted the choice as a political statement, considering Bad Bunny’s past endorsement of former US presidential candidate Kamala Harris and his statements against current US President Donald Trump in his songs. In a September 2025 interview, the rapper announced that he would not tour in the US due to fear of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids during his concerts. The Super Bowl has also been previously tied to politics in the 2025 halftime show, featuring Kendrick Lamar and his call for “revolution.”

“I think the backlash is dramatic,” Leilani said. “It is the only time that the halftime show performer is not singing in English. The biggest minority is the Hispanic people, so why not recognize the population?”

President Trump has also reacted to the decision. During an appearance on Newsmax, he called the selection of Bad Bunny “absolutely ridiculous,” claiming he had never heard of the artist before. Kristi Noem, homeland security secretary, has also commented that ICE agents would be “all over” the event.

“It is interesting that a lot of people are complaining that the event should be ‘American’ and represent American culture,” Natasha Restrepo, Spanish teacher, said. “Sometimes I wonder, what is the meaning of ‘American’? What is the meaning of ‘Latino’? Nobody complained about Shakira or J Lo. I would like to know how a language can upset people, because people are very annoyed and upset about [Bad Bunny].”

The backlash stems from a recent wave of hostility against foreign presence in the US, including the establishment of English as the official language and the classification of the use of Spanish as grounds for detainment by ICE.

“It would appear that everything becomes a chance to fight instead of to have dialogue or construct a bigger understanding and tolerance,” Ms. Restrepo said. “Instead, I see more aggression and intolerance. It calls my attention and it is very sad, because communities need to have better conversations. As humans, we should be reflecting and thinking about progress.”

Turning Point USA, a nonprofit organization founded by the late activist Charlie Kirk, recently revealed that it would host an “All-American Halftime Show” to compete with the official show. While some have praised the all-English, “family-friendly” alternative—including Lara Trump—others have condemned the political codification of previously unifying events like the Super Bowl.

The public controversy surrounding Bad Bunny’s performance reflects the increasing political polarization and national debates about culture in the United States and the world. His 2026 halftime show may be an opportunity to resolve the struggle to both preserve and represent the culture of the US as well as investigate what it means to be “American.”