Bad Bunny has become the center of attention with his response to criticism over his selection for the upcoming Super Bowl halftime show.
The scrutiny comes as Homeland Security issued a warning about the presence of United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers at the Super Bowl.
Earlier this month, the 31-year-old artist, known legally as Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, was announced as the successor to Kendrick Lamar for the Super Bowl LIX show.
Scheduled to take the stage at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, on February 8, 2026, Bad Bunny hinted that his performance might be entirely in Spanish, reflecting his native language.
This announcement followed Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem’s confirmation that ICE agents would be at the Puerto Rican singer’s performance.
“I have the responsibility for making sure everybody who goes to the Super Bowl has the opportunity to enjoy it and to leave, and that’s what America is about,” Noem stated on The Benny Show podcast.
“So yeah, we’ll be all over that place. We’re going to enforce the law.”
Noem also shared her thoughts on the NFL’s decision to choose Bad Bunny, stating: “Well, they suck.”
Her comments came after Bad Bunny revealed he would not bring his Debí Tirar Más Fotos World Tour to the US due to the Trump administration’s enforcement of ICE policies.
On October 4, Bad Bunny addressed his critics during his hosting gig on the 51st season of Saturday Night Live.
“I’m doing the Super Bowl halftime show and I’m very happy,” he expressed amid cheers, before adding playfully: “And I think everyone is very happy about it. Even Fox News.”
The monologue transitioned to edited clips of Fox News hosts saying: “Bad Bunny is my favourite musician and he should be the next president.”
“I’m very excited to be doing the Super Bowl, I know that people all around the world who love my music are also happy,” he continued.
“Especially all of the Latinos and Latinas in the world here in the United States who have worked to open doors,” he said in Spanish, as reported by the New York Times.
“It’s more than a win for myself; it’s a win for all of us. Our footprints and our contribution in this country, no one will ever be able to take that away or erase it.”
In English, the three-time Grammy winner added: “If you didn’t understand what I just said. You have four months to learn.”
Fans quickly took to social media to share their reactions to Bad Bunny’s SNL monologue, with one user writing: “Duolingo for the Gringos, ya’ll got 4 months to learn!!! Nuevaaaaayollllllllllllll….”
Another fan commented: “Benitobowl in 4 months!”
“I don’t understand the uproar. BB is a hugely successful entertainer who is hot at the moment. Many English-speaking artists do concerts in countries that don’t speak English. Music is universal. Enjoy the music as you eat your wings. The game will resume shortly. No biggie,” shared another.
Someone else added: “Love him even more now.”
Prior to being announced as the Super Bowl headliner, Bad Bunny explained to i-D magazine his reasons for not wanting to ‘show up’ in the United States.
“There were many reasons why I didn’t show up in the U.S., and none of them were out of hate — I’ve performed there many times. All of [the shows] have been successful,” he explained.
“But there was the issue of — like, f**king ICE could be outside [my concert]. And it’s something that we were talking about and very concerned about.”
The NFL’s choice of Bad Bunny has faced criticism from Corey Lewandowski.
Lewandowski, a key adviser at the Department of Homeland Security, criticized the NFL’s decision as ‘shameful.’
“[It’s] so shameful that they’ve decided to pick somebody who just seems to hate America so much to represent them at the halftime game,” he said.
In contrast, Imani Cheers, an associate professor at George Washington University, told The Hill: “The Super Bowl has in recent years really become a real cultural moment for the country to come together, and [it] provokes a lot of conversation, whether you’re a football fan or not.”
“There’s always going to be critics. Anyone who is upset about Bad Bunny on the MAGA right is upset because they want to be.”