The widely known Latin singer, Bad Bunny, has been selected to perform at the 2026 LX Super Bowl. Although some are satisfied with the NFL’s pick, some are also disappointed.

In late September, the NFL announced this news to the public. The singer had already reportedly criticized the Donald Trump administration for new immigration laws. About five days later, Kristi Noem, U.S Secretary of Homeland Security, warned the NFL for their choice.

During an episode of the podcast “The Benny Show,” Noem said, “They suck, and we’ll win,” to Benny Johnson, the host, who asked what message she would like to send to the league. After her statement, the criticism progressed.

The Department of Homeland Security advisor Corey Lewandowski, who happened to be on that same podcast, had a similar opinion.

“It’s so shameful that they’ve decided to pick somebody who just seems to hate America so much to represent them at the halftime game,” Lewandowski told Johnson.

Although the NFL faced immediate backlash, they went through with the plan anyway. Most likely due to the fact that Bad Bunny is deemed as one of the most popular artists of the 21st century, it benefits the NFL’s business by growing the international and Latino audience. The decision comes with its benefits and consequences. It exposed the NFL to criticism from Trump and his followers.

At an interview that was published in September, Bad Bunny told i-D Magazine that he refuses to take his world tour for his album, “Debi Tirar Mas Fotos,” to the continental United States because of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. He expressed how he is worried about a potential ICE raid due to his Puerto Rican heritage.

“F—ing ICE could be outside. And it’s something that we were talking about and very concerned about,” he said during an interview with i-D Magazine. 

When he released his music video for his song, “NUEVAYoL,” on July 14, he appeared to mock Trump. In the final scenes of the video, a Trump-sounding voice comes onto the radio, apologizing to immigrants through a broadcast. Bad Bunny had endorsed Kamala Harris for U.S. President in 2024, and criticized the Trump administration’s response to Hurricane Maria back in 2017.

In response to the NFL’s decision, Newsmax’s reporter Greg Kelly asked Trump if people should boycott the NFL due to Bad Bunny’s scheduled performance. Trump had said, “I’ve never heard of him. I don’t know who he is. I don’t know why they’re doing it.”

Mike Johnson, speaker of the House of Representatives, informed Pablo Manriquez, an editor and reporter, that booking Bad Bunny was a “terrible decision” in October of 2025.

Bad Bunny’s scheduled show triggered the conservative organization Turning Point USA to organize a separate halftime show, called “The All-American Halftime Show.” Which is an alternative show appealing to the conservative citizens of the United States.

Trump also told the New York Post he would not be attending the Super Bowl while sharing his opinion on Bad Bunny and Green Day performing. He said, “I’m anti-them. …All it does is sow hatred.”

Adiel Prieto, a ninth grader here at ERHS, shared his thoughts on Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl Halftime show.

“He’s cool,” Prieto said. “I liked his style and his overall performance.”