Bad Bunny Responds to Super Bowl LX Halftime Controversy on SNL
Bad Bunny responded to the criticism surrounding his upcoming Super Bowl LX Halftime Show performance during his guest appearance on Saturday Night Live.
The 31-year-old rapper wasted no time addressing the controversy while hosting the season 51 premiere of the NBC sketch show on Saturday, October 4, where Doja Cat was the featured musical guest.
He humorously noted that he was only hosting, not performing, because he was still “exhausted” from his 31-date No Me Quiero Ir de Aquí residency in San Juan, Puerto Rico, over the previous summer.
“You may not know this, but I’m performing at the Super Bowl Halftime Show,” he declared to roaring applause from the Studio 8H audience. “I’m very excited, and I think everyone is thrilled about it! Even Fox News…”
SNL aired a montage of news clips criticizing his Super Bowl engagement, cleverly edited to say: “Bad Bunny is my favorite musician and he should be the next president.”
“Honestly, I’m really excited about performing at the Super Bowl, and I know my fans worldwide are also thrilled,” he shared with the audience in Studio 8H.
After speaking briefly in Spanish, Bad Bunny added, “If you didn’t understand what I just said, you have four months to learn!”
The monologue included a cameo from Jon Hamm, as Bad Bunny displayed footage of the former Mad Men actor dancing at one of his residency concerts.
The National Football League announced on Sunday, September 28, that Bad Bunny (real name Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio) would headline the Super Bowl LX Halftime Show in 2026, following his performance alongside Jennifer Lopez and Shakira in 2020.
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“What I’m feeling transcends myself,” Bad Bunny expressed in a statement. “This is for those who paved the way for me, allowing me to score this 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.”
The NFL faced immediate backlash from several conservative politicians and public figures over Bad Bunny’s booking due to his recent criticisms of the Trump administration’s controversial immigration policies. Others raised objections because his music is primarily in Spanish.
Former professional race car driver Danica Patrick voiced her concerns on X on Monday, September 29, stating that performing “no songs in English should not be permitted at one of America’s most-watched television events,” later advocating for an alternative halftime show featuring English-language performances.
“I don’t mind if someone from outside the U.S. performs at halftime, although Bad Bunny is a citizen since he was born in Puerto Rico,” Patrick, 43, explained on the “War Room” podcast. “I care about whether I can sing along. His music features almost no English.”
She added, “I don’t think it will be as enjoyable or unifying. What I would hate is for it to create further division.”
Former NFL player and “Bussin’ With the Boys” podcast host Taylor Lewan also expressed his disapproval of Bad Bunny being selected by the NFL during an appearance on Up & Adams on Tuesday, September 30, suggesting another superstar should have received the Halftime Show opportunity.
“It should have been Taylor Swift,” Lewan, 34, declared. “She has seamlessly integrated into this football world, merging two cultures.”
The controversy escalated on Friday, October 3, when Homeland Security Secretary and former South Dakota governor Kristi Noem pledged to deploy U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to the Super Bowl.
“There will be ICE enforcement at the Super Bowl. There will be because the Department of Homeland Security must ensure it is safe, and I have the responsibility of making sure everyone attending has the chance to enjoy it and leave,” Noem, 53, told right-wing podcast host Benny Johnson.
She cautioned, “We will be present… We’re going to enforce the law. So I advise people not to come to the Super Bowl unless they are lawful Americans who love this country.”
Super Bowl LX is set to air on February 8, 2026, on NBC from Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California. The next new episode of Saturday Night Live will air October 11 on NBC at 11:30 p.m. ET, featuring host Amy Poehler and musical guest Role Model.
