A few weeks ago, the NFL unveiled Bad Bunny as the headliner for the 2026 Super Bowl halftime show. However, the league faced significant backlash over the decision, prompting Commissioner Roger Goodell to make a final call on the performer.
Bad Bunny is currently one of the top artists in the world, and the NFL is well aware of his global appeal. Despite the criticism over featuring a Latin artist in the halftime show, the league has decided to ignore the naysayers and proceed with him as the main performer.
âItâs carefully thought through,â Roger Goodell said. âIâm not sure weâve ever selected an artist where we didnât have some blowback or criticism. Itâs pretty hard to do when you have literally hundreds of millions of people that are watching.â
Why is the NFL facing backlash over selecting Bad Bunny for the 2026 Super Bowl halftime show?
Benito Antonio Martinez Ocasio, better known as Bad Bunny, is a 31-year-old Puerto Rican artist who primarily sings in Spanish. As an American league, the NFLâs audience is mostly English-speaking, and the language difference has caused some fans to voice complaints.
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In 2020, the NFL featured Colombian singer Shakira as the main performer in the Super Bowl. However, she performed most of her set in English, which avoided controversy among fans.
According to Roger Goodell, he expects Bad Bunny to perform his songs in Spanish and will not ask him to make any changes simply because the show is taking place in the United States.
Bad Bunny, a blockbuster decision for the NFL
Bad Bunny is one of the most renowned male artists in the world. He is a reggaeton singer from Puerto Rico, a country where music reflects the culture, social and political issues, and traditions.
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He is currently on a world tour called âDebĂ Tirar MĂĄs Fotosâ (which translates to âI Shouldâve Taken More Picturesâ), named after his latest album. As of today, the tour features more than 55 dates.
