On September 28, the NFL announced that Bad Bunny will be the headliner for the Super Bowl LIX halftime show. This announcement was met with jubilation and fierce opposition by fans. The Puerto Rican artist, known for his predominantly Spanish-language music, has drawn criticism from conservative factions questioning the appropriateness of his performance. In spite of this backlash, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has supported Bad Bunny, pointing to the artist’s worldwide appeal.
That last sentence is for all the conservative critics who have been furious about Bad Bunny’s choice. They claim that his espanol-language tracks just simply don’t resonate with the majority of American listeners. Therefore, they are demanding an alternative. A Change.org petition has sprung up to get traditionalist country singer George Strait booked instead. Some critics argue Bad Bunny is not American due to his Puerto Rican background. He is a natural born U.S. citizen.
In rebuttal to these allegations, Goodell came out in favor of Bad Bunny’s booking during an NFL owners’ meeting press conference. He said, “We’re talking about one of the top and most popular entertainers on the planet.” Goodell knew that whatever artist was selected, the decision would be met with criticism. As he put it, “I’m not sure we’ve ever chosen an artist that we didn’t have some blowback or some criticism.”
Turning Point USA, a right-wing astroturf group, has helped organize a counter-programmed, reactionary halftime show. Just as timed as Bad Bunny’s performance. This progressive move is just one facet of a larger, persistent conflict over cultural representation in dominant celebrations and pageants.
Bad Bunny has been outspoken in support of immigrants in the United States. As such, he’s most recently become a vocal critic of recent crackdowns by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). His commitment to social issues resonates with many fans, and he aims to use his platform to advocate for these causes.
“I’m feeling goes beyond myself. And I pay respect to those that came before me who carried the ball thousands of miles so I could score the touchdown. I accept this award in honor of my people, my culture, and our collective history. So go tell your grandma that we’re going to be the SUPER BOWL HALFTIME SHOW!” Bad Bunny said. In the lead-up to the event, he didn’t downplay the significance of his performance.
Goodell shared similar sentiments, saying Bad Bunny “will be sure to put on a must-see show.” He indicated that he was very much looking forward to the new show. More importantly, he thinks the performer is deeply aware of her platform. I personally believe it’s going to be an amazing and unifying time. There is rumor and speculation that other guests will be accompanying Bad Bunny on stage for the halftime spectacle.
Goodell said the following. He added, “It’s pretty difficult to stop on a dime when you have quite literally hundreds of millions of people tuning in.”
As we hurtle towards Super Bowl LIX the hype for Bad Bunny’s halftime show increases, offset by the criticism. Often this performance will be a turning point or exclamation point on the definition of the artist. It will spotlight the representation of diverse cultures within one of America’s most widely-viewed sporting events.
