Students and staff cheer on Bad Bunny as the Super Bowl halftime show choice

Bad Bunny, also known as Benito Antonio Martinez Ocasio, is an ultra-famous Puerto Rican singer-songwriter, rapper, artist, actor, wrestler, fashion icon, and much more, who is slated to perform at this year’s Super Bowl halftime show on February 8, 2026. 

Bad Bunny was chosen because his album Debi Tirar Mas Fotos was the biggest album of 2025, he won Billboard’s Latin American Musical Artist of the year, his months-long concert residency in Puerto Rico this summer was written about and celebrated all over the world, and he is the number one streamed artist globally on Spotify.

When he was chosen, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell stated that it was a “carefully thought-through” decision.

After the announcement, President Donald Trump enraged fans when he said that Bad Bunny playing at the halftime show was “absolutely ridiculous.” Additionally, Corey Lewandowski, Trump’s campaign manager, said, “It’s so shameful they’ve decided to pick somebody who seems to hate America so much to represent them.”

In 2017, Hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rico, killing thousands and leaving billions of dollars in damage. According to an NBC News report published in 2021, Donald Trump, who was president at the time, “withheld about $20 billion in hurricane relief for Puerto Rico,” despite it being “one of the deadliest U.S. natural disasters in over 100 years.” He also threw paper towels into a crowd of Puerto Rican people at a relief center at the time, indicating they should use them to clean up the destruction.

Bad Bunny has refused to tour in the US over the past year after first holding a months-long residency concert in Puerto Rico this summer, then launching it around the world. He has cited wanting to protect his fans from the threat of ICE raids ordered by Donald Trump. He has, however, appeared in the US, performing on shows like Jimmy Kimmel Live and Saturday Night Live. 

The NFL defended its selection of Bad Bunny and said choosing him offered an opportunity to celebrate Latin music and show appreciation for the artist’s cultural significance. I spoke with students and staff about their thoughts about Bad Bunny being the halftime performer at the February 8 show. 

Counseling office administrative assistant Wilnelia Melendez, administrative assistant to the Principal Lirey Rodriguez, and Dean of Students Mary Custard all attended Bad Bunny’s residency concert in Puerto Rico this summer, and all had a lot to say about him being chosen for the show.

“I can’t wait!!! It’s more like there’s a football game happening during Bad Bunny’s show! I love that they gave him the opportunity,” said Rodriguez, who is Puerto Rican. 

Melendez, who is also Puerto Rican, is hyped for his Super Bowl show. “I think it’s amazing, and I get chills just thinking about it,” she said. “The idea of someone representing our little island [that is 100 miles long and 35 miles wide] on one of the biggest stages in the world: wow. It’s incredible! I can’t wait to see what he comes up with.” 

Custard was also thrilled, saying she was “looking forward to it.”

“The Halftime Show has for many years provided a snapshot of the musical and cultural diversity of the USA, no matter the artist’s culture or citizenship,” added Custard. “Remember, Bad Bunny is a U.S. citizen, and even if he wasn’t, so what? He’s a great musician!”

Bad Bunny has countless great songs. But for many, their favorite song is DtMF or “Debi tirar mas fotos.” The title of the song and the following chorus translates in English to “I should’ve taken more pictures when I had you. I should’ve given you more kisses and hugs whenever I could.” It is a love song to the people Bad Bunny has loved, to Puerto Rico, its people, and their culture.

“The DtMF album encourages people to value their past, stay connected to their present, and appreciate every moment,” said Melendez. 

For many that I spoke with, Bad Bunny is an inspiration. Besides where he’s gotten in his career, his personality alone motivates people to be the best version of themselves.

For example, after Hurricane Maria, Rodriguez said Bad Bunny wrote a song about it to spread awareness of his homeland. The song is called “Una Velita” (a little candle). There are many powerful lyrics, especially “Fueron cinco mil que dejaron morir y eso nunca se nos va a olvidar,” which translates to “It was 5,000 that they let die, and we’ll never forget.”

“I don’t even know how to describe the love we have for our island, which includes the people, the food, the music, the beaches, the rivers, the mountains,” said Rodriguez. “Especially when you’re not living there anymore, it feels like something is missing. I think he highlights this in a major way in his DTMF album. I say he woke up something in the diaspora.” 

The diaspora refers to the dispersion of people from their original homeland, and how, despite being scattered around the world, they retain ties to their original culture or homeland.  Rodriguez said not only is Bad Bunny always playing in her home or her car, but she plays his music “in my office” as well. 

“I like his music, but I fell in love with his personality, too,” she said. “I love that he didn’t change from Spanish to English when becoming famous.” 

Rodriguez is not alone in loving Bad Bunny. Over 64% of Americans plan on watching the Super Bowl, and the Hispanic community shows very strong engagement with the event, with 80% planning to watch, according to Study Finds.

Many of the fans I spoke with took issue with Trump and other conservatives criticizing Bad Bunny. 

 “Much of what the orange guy says is divisive, racist, dishonest, evil, stupid, ridiculous,” said Custard. “Other so-called non-American artists who have performed at the Super Bowl include Rihanna, Shakira, The Weeknd, Paul McCartney, Sting, Shania Twain, U2, Coldplay, The Rolling Stones, and J. Balvin. I don’t remember any uproar about these artists!”

Even people who were not diehard Bad Bunny fans I spoke with strongly supported the singer performing. ARHS senior Caesar Marcus is a huge football fan who has seen “every Super Bowl since I was five.” Marcus said he always watches the halftime show, and this year will be no exception.  

He has seen Bad Bunny in movies and on SNL and listened to a little bit of his music with his sister. “I think he will do a good job,” he said. 

Marcus thinks any controversy over the artist performing is “stupid.”

“He is the most-streamed artist on Spotify,” he said.

Senior Evie Donta agreed. She enjoys listening to Bad Bunny on late-night drives. She approves of him as a Super Bowl entertainer. “It’s good right now to have someone Spanish-speaking because of all of the crazy stuff going on with ICE right now,” she said. “I think anyone who complains about [his halftime show]is uneducated and immature.”

According to those who went to his concert in Puerto Rico, seeing him perform is a powerful experience. 

Custard said attending his residency with good friends was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. “I was thrilled to attend with my daughter and two good friends in August,” she said. “It was a 3-hour dance and song fest. The energy in the stadium was amazing! I love that he incorporates classic, traditional music, and pride for Puerto Rico into his sound.”

Rodriguez said that while at the show, she “cried, laughed, danced, and screamed! The energy in that place [had] no words!”

Melendez said that at the show, “the main stage looked like a mountain covered in Puerto Rico’s lush greenery, with flamboyán trees, a cave at the top, barbed-wire fences, plantain trees, and even live chickens,” and that “it perfectly represented the island’s typical countryside landscapes.”

 “On the other side, there was a casita de campo, a traditional Puerto Rican country house,” she added. “This is where a big part of the reggaetón section of the concert took place.”

Melendez loved the musical diversity of the show.

“He didn’t just perform reggaetón, he also included salsa and bomba, Puerto Rico’s traditional music styles. He brought special guests to each show, especially for the song ‘Lo Que Le Pasó a Hawaii,” which “criticizes gentrification and the loss of cultural identity in Puerto Rico, comparing it to what happened in Hawaii after the U.S. invasion.”

 Melendez said while some may criticize Bad Bunny for being political, his message is important. He “expresses his fear that Puerto Rico is losing its language, customs, and identity as foreign investment and tourism drive up housing costs and push out native residents.”

She also loves how brave and authentic Bad Bunny is.  “He’s rebellious, confident, and unapologetic about what he wears or says and expresses in his music,” she said. “He can rock a dress just as well as a suit, wearing both with pride and without caring what anyone thinks, and he looks amazing doing it!”

As Super Bowl LX approaches, Bad Bunny’s selection as the halftime performer continues to spark debate, praise, and reflection. While critics may question the NFL’s decision, supporters view it as a powerful acknowledgment of Latin music, Puerto Rican culture, and the evolving identity of America’s most-watched sporting event. 

Rodriguez said that her family will be coming together in full force for this historic moment. “My mom is having a Super Bowl party for the first time ever because of Bad Bunny,” she said.