Bad Bunny’s half-time performance at Super Bowl LX tomorrow has turned into somewhat of a battleground in America’s ongoing culture wars.
President Donald Trump has even gone as far as to call the Puerto Rican megastar a “terrible choice” for the prestigious slot.
The 31-year-old artist, who holds six Grammy Awards and 17 Latin Grammys, has drawn fierce criticism from the Trump administration since his selection was revealed in September.
But why, and who is the man who appears to have caused a stark divide among politically inclined football fans?
Bad Bunny swept up at the Grammys earlier this month
|
GETTY
Who is Bad Bunny?
The performer, whose real name is Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, was born in the Puerto Rican city of Bayamón and built his following by releasing tracks independently online before his 2018 debut album X 100pre propelled him to stardom.
Bad Bunny has consistently criticised Ice
| PA
Often dubbed the King of Latin Trap, he has topped Spotify’s global streaming charts for four of the past five years, establishing himself as one of the world’s most popular musicians.
His most recent record, Debí Tirar Más Fotos, blends reggaeton and salsa with traditional Puerto Rican sounds and spent three consecutive weeks at the top of the Billboard 200 in early 2025.
Earlier this month, he made history at the Grammys by becoming the first artist to claim album of the year for a record performed entirely in Spanish.
Why is Bad Bunny’s half-time slot controversial, and what has Trump said about him?
Trump himself has confirmed he will not attend this year’s championship game at California’s Levi’s Stadium, unlike the previous year.
“I don’t know who he is,” the president remarked when the announcement was made. “I don’t know why they’re doing it. It’s, like, crazy.”
The controversy skyrocketed when Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem declared that Ice agents would be “all over” the Super Bowl, warning that only “law-abiding Americans who love this country” should attend.
However, her remarks were subsequently contradicted by NFL security chief Cathy Lanier, who stated on February 3 that no immigration enforcement operations were scheduled for match day.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has been an outspoken critic of Bad Bunny
| REUTERS
Bad Bunny had previously made headlines by refusing to bring his tour to mainland American venues, citing fears about mass deportations under Trump’s immigration policies.
In an interview with i-D magazine, he expressed concern about Ice officers potentially stationing themselves outside his concerts, putting his Spanish-speaking fans at risk.
At the Grammy ceremony earlier this month, the artist delivered what many considered the evening’s most politically charged acceptance speech, opening with the declaration: “Before I say thanks to God, I’m going to say Ice out.”
He continued: “We’re not savages, we’re not animals, we’re not aliens – we’re humans,” addressing weeks of heightened tensions between communities and immigration enforcement officers across American cities.
President Trump has called Bad Bunny a ‘terrible’ choice for the Super Bowl half-tiem show
| GETTY
“The hate gets more powerful with more hate. The only thing that’s more powerful than hate is love, so, please, we need to be different. If we fight, we have to do it with love.”
The singer has previously targeted the Trump administration through his music, including a July 2025 track featuring a Trump-like voice apologising to immigrants, and publicly backed Kamala Harris during the 2024 presidential campaign.
What has the NFL said about the Trump-Bad Bunny feud?
The NFL has firmly defended its selection, with commissioner Roger Goodell telling reporters this week that Bad Bunny ranks among “the great artists in the world”.
A view of Levi’s Stadium ahead of the Super Bowl LX game between the New England Patriots and the Seattle Seahawks | REUTERS
He reiterated that the rapper understands the league’s platform is meant “to unite people and be able to bring people together.”
However, conservative organisation Turning Point USA has organised a rival broadcast to air simultaneously with the Puerto Rican star’s performance.
Billed as the All-American half-time show, the event will feature Trump ally Kid Rock alongside country performers Brantley Gilbert, Lee Brice, and Gabby Barrett.
Turning Point spokesman Andrew Kolvet described the alternative programme as “an opportunity for all Americans to enjoy a half-time show with no agenda other than to celebrate faith, family, and freedom.”
