In late September, the NFL announced that Bad Bunny, a Puerto Rican rapper and singer—who has publicly criticized the Trump administration over its immigration policies—would be headlining the Super Bowl halftime show on Feb. 9 in Santa Clara, California.
The performance quickly drew mixed reactions from viewers and fans across the world. Turning Point USA introduced the All-American Halftime Show featuring Kid Rock. According to YouGov.com, 53% of Americans say they watched the Super Bowl, 46% of Americans say they watched the halftime shows with Bad Bunny, and 24% of Americans say they watched the All-American version featuring Kid Rock.
“That doesn’t surprise me,” middle school Spanish teacher Alexis Araiza said. “In my perspective, it’s very petty that somebody decided to make another halftime show. If you’re making a halftime show just because you don’t like another person, you’re just dividing people, you’re just pushing people more. And when you push people, you’re not getting them closer to your side.”
The Super Bowl halftime show controversy has left viewers pondering why people reacted so strongly to Bad Bunny’s opportunity to perform, especially when past performers like Shakira from Colombia, Rihanna from Barbados, Coldplay from the UK, The Rolling Stones from the UK and The Weeknd from Canada did not spark the same level of backlash.
“I think it’s interesting, our current social climate has made it easier for people to be more vocal against the international artists. Although Bad Bunny isn’t even international, he’s Puerto Rican,” DEIB Program Manager Flor Hernandez Morales said.
Public reaction to the Super Bowl halftime show may have been intensified by another major moment during the music industry. During the Grammys, celebrities such as Justin and Hailey Bieber, Billie Eilish, Kehlani, Finneas, and Amy Allen appeared wearing the “I.C.E OUT” pins, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Their visible support for the movement brought immigration politics into the spotlight, sparking opinions leading to the Super Bowl halftime show.
Eighth grader Seth Sharma said, “A lot of music is political, and music is meant to give a message, and it’s okay for everyone to express their emotions and feelings because we live in a democracy.”
Some saw Bad Bunny’s performance as a cultural statement. To others, it came across as a symbolic rebellion to the Immigration and Customs and Enforcement.
“I think in some way, yeah. But then there’s ICE, the Immigration and Customs Enforcement. He is not an immigrant. He was born in the United States. He was born in Puerto Rico, which is part of the United States,” eighth grader Christopher Jonte said.
The controversy quickly extended beyond entertainment, as Donald Trump blasted the show, saying on Truth Social, “There is nothing inspirational about this mess of a Halftime Show,” “This ‘Show’ is just a ‘slap in the face’ to our country.”
“I think I disagree, and here’s why,” Jonte said. “He claims that no one understands a word of what this guy says. Tons of Americans speak Spanish, and that shows our diversity. And that’s something to be proud of, that we have so many cultures.”