Bad Bunny's breakthrough
Bad Bunny's Super Bowl performance
Photo by Elizabeth Robertson.
Everett Baumann, Editor-in-Chief & Tanya Shriram, Staff Writer
Benito Antonio Martinez Ocasio, also known as Bad Bunny, is a Puerto Rican singer and songwriter. Often referred to as the "King of Latin Rap", Bad Bunny's 10th studio album "Debi Tirar Mas Photos" launched his music into a new stratosphere, making him the number one most-streamed artist in the world in 2025.
On the back of his recent success, Bad Bunny is set to headline the Super Bowl LX Halftime Show, one of the biggest stages in the world. Many have championed Bad Bunny's breakthrough as a primarily Spanish-speaking artist, including National Football League (NFL) Commissioner Roger Goodell at a press conference in October of 2025.
"We're confident it's going to be a great show," Goodell said. "He understands the platform that he's on, and I think it's going to be exciting and a united moment."
However, Bad Bunny's selection has garnered controversy among conservatives due to Bad Bunny's outspoken political beliefs, most notably his anti-ICE (United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement) stance. Polling shows 63% of Republicans want the NFL to feature another artist, aligning with their diverse political views. Currently, Bad Bunny's world tour of his new album does not feature any stops in the United States due to fears regarding the presence of ICE at his concerts.
"It’s so shameful they’ve decided to pick somebody who just seems to hate America so much to represent them at the halftime game,” American political commentator and advisor to President Donald Trump Corey Lewandowski said.
Due to Bad Bunny's discography consisting of Spanish-speaking music, some believe he does not appeal to a broad audience. Aiming to remedy concerns, Turning Point USA (TPUSA), a non-profit organization that advocates for conservatism on high school and college campuses, created its own alternative halftime show, the All-American Halftime. The show will feature performances by artists Kid Rock, Lee Brice, Brantley Gilbert, and Gabby Barrett. It will air on news networks like One America News and Real America's Voice, as well as TPUSA's social media channels.
In contrast, many in the Latin community see it as a celebration of Hispanic music and culture, and an opportunity for more diversity in American media.
"It shows like they're open to diversity a lot. It also integrates different kinds of people. Maybe in the future, they could do something similar for [other] cultures. And it shows [the NFL] opening up to different artists too," sophomore Alejandro Andrade said.
Some see the selection as a money grab disguised as growing the primarily American game through Hispanic representation. While Super Bowl performers do not receive payment, the more popular the artist, the more exposure the NFL receives. By having an artist who garnered $733 million for Puerto Rico over his 30-day residency, the NFL's ratings stand to receive an extra boost this year.
"[Bad Bunny] makes money where he goes. I feel like the only perspective that [NFL] owners and the Commissioner have is: what will make us the most amount of money?" senior Sebastian Ulffe said.
Ultimately, the focus is on Bad Bunny's halftime show itself. The content, costumes, and tracklist remain a mystery. What is not a mystery, however, is the controversy it's garnered. As showtime grows closer, anticipation will only build higher.
