Bad Bunny Ignites Controversy: Superstar Fires Back at Super Bowl Halftime Backlash — “You Have Four Months to Learn Spanish!”

In a moment that has both thrilled and divided fans, global music icon Bad Bunny is set to headline the Super Bowl LX halftime show in February 2026. But instead of applause from all sides, his announcement has sparked a nationwide firestorm—because his entire performance will be in Spanish.

And his response to critics? “You have four months to learn.”

The Announcement That Shook Super Bowl Sunday

Bad Bunny, a multi-time Grammy Award winner and one of the most streamed artists in the world, confirmed that he’ll be performing at the world’s most-watched annual sporting event. For many, it marks a long-overdue recognition of Latin music’s global dominance. For others, it’s ignited a heated culture war.

During a recent appearance on Saturday Night Live, where he closed out season 50 as host and musical guest, the Puerto Rican star wasted no time addressing the backlash. “Everyone is happy,” he joked, “even Fox News.” The screen then flashed a rapid-fire montage of spliced-together clips of right-wing pundits awkwardly saying, “Bad Bunny. Is. My favorite. Musician. And he should be the next. President.”

But the real mic drop came at the end of his monologue.

“I’m very excited to be doing the Super Bowl, and I know that people all around the world who love my music are also happy,” he said. “And if you didn’t understand what I just said… you have four months to learn.”

Conservative Backlash — and ICE Threats?

The announcement has enraged several conservative figures. Trump adviser Corey Lewandowski and South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem—who also serves as Homeland Security Secretary in Trump’s second administration—made inflammatory statements suggesting ICE would be present at the game.

“We’re going to enforce the law,” Noem said on The Benny Show. “I think people should not be coming to the Super Bowl unless they’re law-abiding Americans who love this country.”

Critics blasted the remarks as coded language targeting Latinos and immigrants, while supporters claimed the Super Bowl should feature “American culture.”

Bad Bunny’s Not Backing Down

For the artist born Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, the decision to perform in Spanish is more than artistic—it’s political.

During his SNL appearance, Bad Bunny acknowledged that he had deliberately excluded mainland U.S. stops from his last world tour due to the Trump administration’s immigration crackdowns. The Super Bowl, however, is different—a platform too big to ignore, and too powerful not to use.

“Especially all the Latinos and Latinas in the whole world, and here in the United States,” he said in Spanish. “The people who have worked to open doors—who have achieved everything—showing that what we carry in our hearts cannot be erased.”

The Internet Reacts — Divided, But Loud

Social media exploded. Hashtags like #LearnSpanish, #BadBunnySuperBowl, and #SuperBowlBoycott trended for days.

On X (formerly Twitter), opinions were split:

“It’s about time the biggest show in America reflects the people who actually live here. Bad Bunny is a legend.”
“I’m not watching the Super Bowl if I can’t understand the music. This is AMERICA.”
“He’s giving people four months to learn Spanish? That’s iconic.”

Is America Ready for a Spanish Super Bowl?

Cultural commentators say this moment is bigger than music. It’s a test of how America responds to changing demographics and rising multicultural influence.

“Bad Bunny isn’t just a musician—he’s a movement,” says Dr. Sofia Medina, a media sociologist at UCLA. “His choice to perform entirely in Spanish at the Super Bowl is about ownership. Ownership of space, of voice, of identity.”

With Latinos now making up nearly 20% of the U.S. population, some see this performance as a long-overdue reflection of America’s true diversity. Others see it as a flashpoint in the ongoing battle over national identity.

Countdown Begins

Whether fans are furious or thrilled, one thing is clear: Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl performance is already the most talked-about halftime show in years.

And if his message is any indication, he doesn’t care about the backlash. He’s inviting the world to show up, tune in, and—yes—learn a little Spanish along the way.

“Four months,” he said. “The clock’s ticking.”