The 2026 Super Bowl halftime show has the world talking, and millions are excited to watch Bad Bunny take the stage. With the current state of affairs, it is no surprise that there is some pushback, with many ignorant individuals showing their racism and lack of understanding that Puerto Rico is a part of the United States. The voices are small but loud, and thousands of people have taken the time out of their day to sign a petition, hoping to replace the global superstar with a country singer.
© GettyAs one of the most-streamed artists on the planet, a Coachella headliner, and the man who is believed to have generated $400M into Puerto Rico with his residency, there really should be no pushback about Bad Bunny's dominance. But according to at least 79,000 people, this is a national emergency that must be solved by… swapping him out for George Strait.
© GettyStrait is a respected country singer, but he isn’t exactly dominating social media or inspiring stadiums full of all ages and races to scream and rap in Spanish. The petition resembles a patriotic campaign speech, as it argues that the halftime show should “unite our country, honor American culture, and remain family-friendly.”
It claims that Bad Bunny “represents none of these values” because of his drag performances and flamboyant style, while Strait “embodies unity, tradition, and timeless American music."
With sexist and homophobic undertones, the petition is just silly. There is no denying Bad Bunny's cultural relevance. His ticket sales, global language crossover, trend-setting, and accolades do all the talking. We must also not forget that the United States is a melting pot, and about 20% of the population is Latino.
Roger Goodell stands his ground
© GettyWhile Donald Trump has said he has never heard of the singer, calling the NFL's decision "crazy," NFL commissioner Roger Goodell made it crystal clear he’s not budging. At Wednesday's press conference, when asked about the decision to pick Bad Bunny, he responded, “He’s one of the leading and most popular entertainers in the world."
“That’s what we try to achieve. It’s an important stage for us… I think it’s going to be an exciting and uniting moment," he continued. Goodell also reminded people that every halftime show gets backlash.
What Bad Bunny has said
© Apple MusicBad Bunny returned to Saturday Night Live earlier this month and addressed his fans in Spanish during his monologue, saying, “More than being an accomplishment of mine, it’s an accomplishment for everybody, demonstrating that our mark and our contribution to this country will never be able to be removed or erased by anybody."
He went on to quip in English, “If you didn’t understand what I just said, you have four months to learn.”
