Unhealthy Bunny helped Saturday Evening Reside kick off its 51st season on Oct. 4 and took time to handle conservative critics of his upcoming 2026 Tremendous Bowl Halftime efficiency.
Unhealthy Bunny, whose actual identify is Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, took to the stage in NY for the primary time since making the choice to not carry his massively well-liked live performance tour to US cities as a result of risk of ICE raids. He used the present’s platform to handle the rampant racism and ignorance that adopted his historic Tremendous Bowl announcement.
“You could not know however I’m doing the Tremendous Bowl Halftime present and I’m very completely happy,” he mentioned. “And I believe everybody may be very completely happy about it, even Fox Information. No, however actually I’m very excited to be doing the Tremendous Bowl and I do know that individuals all world wide, who love my music, are additionally completely happy.”
He continued, in Spanish, saying,
“Particularly for all Latinos and Latinas world wide, and for these right here within the U.S. for each one that has labored laborious and opened doorways for others. This achievement just isn’t solely mine, it’s a shared accomplishment that demonstrates the legacy and contributions we have now made on this nation one thing that nobody can take away or erase. And if you happen to didn’t perceive that, you’ve 4 months to study.”
Heard you, señor!
It was additionally the primary time within the present’s historical past {that a} performer closed a season after which was introduced again to assist open the subsequent, NBC Information reviews. Unhealthy Bunny has appeared on the present three different instances along with his first look being in 2020; nonetheless, his newest internet hosting duties appeared to ship an enormous message to detractors that he has no plans to relent to the onslaught of negativity.
Throughout a podcast look, Homeland Safety Secretary Kristi Noem stoked the flames of division round Unhealthy Bunny’s Tremendous Bowl efficiency saying that ICE Brokers can be “throughout” the large sport festivities to make arrests, NBC Information reviews. This adopted President Trump‘s impassioned response to the announcement by which he known as the NFL’s selection of Unhealthy Bunny “shameful.” Trump’s advisor, Corey Lewandowski, additionally had selection phrases for the league throughout an look on the The Benny Present the place he echoed Noem’s threats of ICE arrests.
“There may be nowhere you may present secure haven to people who find themselves on this nation illegally,” he mentioned, in accordance with VICE Information. “Not the Tremendous Bowl and nowhere else. We’ll discover you and apprehend you and put you in a detention facility and deport you. Know that could be a very actual scenario below this administration, which is opposite to the way it was once. It’s so shameful they’ve determined to choose anyone who appears to hate America a lot to signify them on the Halftime Present, there are many nice bands and leisure individuals who may very well be enjoying at that present that will be bringing individuals collectively and never separating them.”
It’s price noting that the NFL entered into an settlement with Jay-Z’s Roc Nation again in 2019, giving the corporate free rein over the league’s dwell music technique. The contract was mentioned to be a part of the NFL’s Encourage Change initiative, which was the league’s considerably apologetic response to the way it dealt with Colin Kaepernick’s courageous stance towards police brutality. The transfer by Jay was controversial on the time however he and Roc Nation have given the world’s greatest stage to various and fearless voices yearly since. As beforehand reported by BOSSIP, Roc Nation and the NFL prolonged their partnership final 12 months for an undisclosed period of time.
In line with the NFL, the Encourage Change marketing campaign has resulted in $55 million in grants to social justice organizations, and crew contributions have resulted in additional than $248 million to “change-driven” non-profits.
