Fox News branded Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl halftime show as potentially the worst in history for delivering not one word of English to America’s biggest audience.
Story Snapshot
- Bad Bunny performed the first all-Spanish Super Bowl halftime show in February 2026 at Super Bowl LX in Santa Clara, California.
- Conservative critics, including President Trump and Fox News, slammed it as exclusionary and politically charged.
- Stadium crowds cheered the 13-minute salsa-filled spectacle despite the language barrier.
- NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell defended the choice as a unifying celebration of global talent.
- The event ignited debates on cultural inclusion versus American norms in national events.
Bad Bunny Delivers All-Spanish Performance
Bad Bunny headlined Super Bowl LX halftime on February 8, 2026, in Santa Clara, California. He filled 13 minutes with reggaeton hits, salsa dancing, and high-energy movement. The Puerto Rican artist spoke and sang exclusively in Spanish, marking the first such show headlined by one performer. No overt political statements appeared on stage, unlike his recent Grammy “ICE out” protest against immigration policies. Stadium fans danced and cheered throughout.
Conservative Backlash Ignites Immediately
Fox News commentators called the performance what may have been the worst halftime show in history, zeroing in on the total absence of English. President Trump pre-condemned the NFL’s “terrible choice” of Bad Bunny, a known critic of his Puerto Rico response after Hurricane Maria and immigration stance. Trump labeled it anti-American and skipped the event. Conservative media framed the show as divisive, alienating non-Spanish speakers in a unifying national platform.
NFL and Goodell Defend Artistic Choice
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell selected Bad Bunny post-Grammys for his global artistry and potential to unite audiences. Goodell stated the performer understands the platform’s power. The league positioned the show as a cultural milestone celebrating Latino contributions amid immigration tensions. Partial Spanish elements appeared in past shows, like J Balvin with Jennifer Lopez in 2020, but never dominated a solo headliner slot.
Latino community leaders hailed the representation. Chicago club owner Miriam Velez, DJ Emmanuel Ríos Colón, and bakery owner Yazmin Auli described it as empowering for Puerto Ricans facing profiling. They watched collectively, seeing global impact.
Fox News Reacts to What ‘May Have Been the Worst Halftime Show’ in History: ‘Not One Word of English!’
“This isn’t just entertainment, it’s a political message on America’s biggest stage," said Brian @Kilmeade…
Report by @CharlieNash
More:https://t.co/ghcbAKlMIB— johnny dollar (@johnnydollar01) February 9, 2026
Expert Views Highlight Cultural Divide
Translator Mike Alfaro viewed Bad Bunny’s presence as inherently political. Professor Petra Rivera-Rideau explained layers of meaning for Spanish speakers under harassment, treating the Super Bowl like a national holiday. Arthur Brooks urged conservatives to relax over the language. These perspectives underscore the show’s role in advancing Latino mainstreaming while fueling “woke” NFL accusations.
Short-term reactions polarized: crowds loved it, critics fumed. Long-term, it validates Spanish-language music viability and may shape future bookings. Economic boosts from Latino viewership counter social debates on inclusion versus tradition. Common sense aligns with Fox’s point—America’s marquee event demands accessibility, not exclusion, echoing conservative values of unity through shared language.
Sources:
CBS News: Bad Bunny Super Bowl halftime show cultural impact
