Bad Bunny headlined the Super Bowl LX halftime show at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, where the Seattle Seahawks faced the New England Patriots. The 31-year-old Puerto Rican artist, born Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, drew sharp criticism from fans outraged by his recent anti-ICE remarks.
Performance Highlights and Surprise Guests
Bad Bunny delivered a high-energy set, joined by surprise guests Lady Gaga and Pedro Pascal, adding star power to the event. This marks his second Super Bowl appearance, following a guest spot in 2020’s Super Bowl LIV alongside Jennifer Lopez and Shakira. He becomes the first solo Latin artist to lead the halftime show.
Pre-Show Fan Reactions
Before the performance, social media buzzed with discontent over his selection. One X user compared choosing Bad Bunny to Kid Rock for the halftime show to picking between recent presidential nominees, calling both options poor. Others opted for Kid Rock’s unofficial show or household chores instead.
Recent Grammy Triumph and ICE Criticism
Just a week prior, Bad Bunny made history at the 68th Grammy Awards, winning album of the year for Debí Tirar Más Fotos—the first Spanish-language album to claim the honor. Visibly emotional, he dedicated the award to immigrants leaving their homelands for dreams.
In his acceptance speech, delivered mostly in Spanish, he explicitly targeted ICE: “Before I say thanks to God, I’m going to say, ICE Out.” The crowd cheered as he added, “We are not savage. We are not animals. We are not aliens. We are humans, and we are Americans.” He urged responding to hate with love: “The hate gets more powerful with more hate. The only thing that is more powerful than hate is love.”
NFL Commissioner’s Response
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell addressed the controversy during Super Bowl week. He praised Bad Bunny as “one of the greatest artists in the world” and noted the singer “understood the platform he was on.” Goodell emphasized the halftime show’s role in uniting people through creativity and talent.
Broader Controversy and ICE Presence
The booking sparked backlash from conservatives and officials since its September announcement. Former President Trump called it “absolutely ridiculous” in an October interview, stating he would skip the game. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem warned of heavy ICE patrols in the Bay Area, saying agents would be “all over that place” to enforce the law and advising only “law-abiding Americans who love this country” to attend.
Tensions heightened after ICE agents fatally shot protesters in Minneapolis, including Renée Good, 37, shot in the face while in her car, and VA nurse Alex Pretti, shot 10 times after intervening. A DHS official clarified that those legally present and law-abiding have nothing to fear.
Bad Bunny skipped mainland U.S. concerts on his latest tour, citing fears of ICE presence. He explained to I-D Magazine it stemmed from concerns like “f***ing ICE could be outside [my concert],” while affirming his love for performing for Latinos in the U.S.
Internal NFL Concerns
Reports indicate an NFL team owner voiced worries to Goodell about the platform amplifying Bad Bunny, potentially jeopardizing a deal to sell league assets like NFL Network to ESPN for a 10% stake. Despite this, the league proceeded confidently.
Artist’s Background
From Bayamón, Puerto Rico, Bad Bunny began creating music at 14. By 2016, a SoundCloud track led to a record deal. Hits and collaborations with Cardi B, J Balvin, and Drake followed. His 2020 album YHLQMDLG hit No. 2 on the Billboard 200—the highest for a fully Spanish album then. His latest topped charts and earned critical acclaim as a 2025 standout.
