The 2026 Super Bowl halftime show has generated widespread attention, with millions eager to see Bad Bunny perform. However, the announcement has also faced some criticism. A number of individuals have expressed opposition, and a petition has circulated calling for a country singer to replace the Puerto Rican artist.
As 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. However, at least 79,000 people, are urging the sports organization to swap him out for George Strait.
While, Strait is a respected country singer, Bad Bunny is dominating social media and inspiring stadiums full of all ages and races to scream and rap in Spanish. The petition 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."
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
While 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
Bad 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.”