By Elizabeth Faragi
The NFL announced that Puerto Rican artist Bad Bunny will headline the 2026 Super Bowl halftime show last week. This announcement comes during Hispanic Heritage Month.
The Super Bowl is one of the most-watched events in the United States. Last year’s Super Bowl broke the record of all-time watched broadcast in the U.S., with an average of 127.7 million views, according to Fox News.
The audience of last year’s Super Bowl peaked during Kendrick Lamar’s halftime show, averaging 133.5 million viewers, according to Fox News.
This year, the audience and numbers should be no different.
Bad Bunny, born Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, is a Puerto Rican rapper whose lyrics are primarily in Spanish. As a result, this announcement has sparked backlash toward the NFL and Bad Bunny amid the Trump administration’s crackdown on illegal immigration.
Bad Bunny had previously voiced his feelings toward the Trump Administration in an interview with i-D magazine. He explained that he didn’t tour his last album, “Debí Tirar Más Fotos,” in the U.S., fearing an ICE presence at his concerts.
“ICE could be outside [the concert venue],” Bad Bunny said. “It’s something we were talking about and very concerned about.”
According to CNN, Bad Bunny’s previous criticisms of ICE and the Trump administration sparked backlash among conservatives. His critics also say he should not perform because of his Spanish-language lyrics and his gender-fluid fashion choices, according to The Washington Post. Others are upset with the NFL for allowing this, according to The Post.
Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem criticized the NFL on “The Benny Show” and said that ICE will be “all over” the Super Bowl. Corey Lewandowski, a top adviser on Trump’s 2016 and 2024 campaigns, also openly criticized the NFL on “The Benny Show”.
“There is nowhere you can provide safe haven to people who are in this country illegally. Not the Super Bowl and nowhere else,” Lewandowski said. “We will find you and apprehend you and put you in a detention facility and deport you.”
President Donald Trump openly criticized the NFL on Monday night on Newsmax. When asked about boycotting the league due to the choice of Bad Bunny, Trump called the decision “absolutely ridiculous.”
Bad Bunny expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to perform on “Saturday Night Live” last Saturday.
“I’m very excited to be doing the Super Bowl, and I know that people all around the world who love my music are also happy,” he said.
He added in Spanish: “Especially all of the Latinos and Latinas in the world here in the United States who have worked to open doors. It’s more than a win for myself; it’s a win for all of us.”
Gabriela Christian, a sophomore mathematics major, was born and raised in Puerto Rico. She expressed her excitement that someone from there would be performing.
“It feels great to be represented,” Christian said. “I think that people will see how talented we are and how culturally rich Puerto Rico actually is.”
Skye Volpicella, a sophomore government and politics major, also expressed excitement about the upcoming performance.
“I think Bad Bunny has popularized Latin music in a way nobody else ever has,” Volpicella said. “He’s reached audiences that don’t even speak his language. He’s so talented and has such a unique sound and vibe that brings people together.”
Owen Korzak, a sophomore journalism major and an avid football fan, was not nearly as excited about the choice but understood it.
“I don’t know a single Bad Bunny song, so I’m not necessarily stoked that he’s performing,” Korzak said. “I understand why the NFL did it, though. The league has been trying to grow their international market. This is certainly gonna help their viewership globally.”
Christian also believes viewership might increase.
“I think more people will watch it because a lot of Hispanic people will be really excited,” Christian said. “Football isn’t really popular in Latin American countries, but the fact that a Puerto Rican artist is gonna perform will be great.”
The NFL made this announcement during Hispanic Heritage Month, which spans from Monday, Sept. 15 to Wednesday, Oct. 15.
Christian believes this further amplifies the importance of Hispanic culture in the U.S.
“It’ll be insane,” Christian said. “I think his performance is gonna break barriers.”
Featured Image: A view of the bleachers at SECU Stadium on Wednesday. Photo by Ella Buchanan