Bad Bunny took a jab at those critical of his selection as the next Super Bowl halftime show performer during his host monologue on Saturday Night Live.
"I'm doing the Super Bowl halftime show. I'm very happy and I think everyone is happy about it. Even Fox News," he said, while hosting the season 51 premiere.
The show then played a series of edited clips from various network discussions about him that made it seem like they were declaring, "Bad Bunny is my favorite musician and he should be the next president."
He continued, "But really, I'm very excited to be doing the Super Bowl. I know that people all around the world love my music. I'm so happy and..."
The Puerto Rican music superstar then continued the rest of his speech in Spanish, concluding with, "And if you didn't understand what I just said, you have four months to learn."
The remark was a jab at the commentary that's taken place since the Grammy winner was announced as the headliner for the 2026 Super Bowl halftime show on Monday. After the announcement, he faced racist criticism over his catalogue of Spanish songs.
Former race car driver and Trump campaigner Danica Patrick slammed the NFL for the selection, writing, "No songs in English should not be allowed at one of America’s highest rated television events of the year… not just for sports."
The Happy Gilmore 2 actor — and many of his fans — also fielded hate based on his origin, despite Puerto Rico being a U.S. territory, which means Bad Bunny, like all Puerto Ricans, is a U.S. citizen.
The Trump administration has threatened to send ICE agents to the Super Bowl during Bad Bunny's halftime show.
"There is nowhere you can provide safe haven to people who are in this country illegally. Not the Super Bowl and nowhere else," Corey Lewandowski, Trump's former campaign manager, said on a conservative YouTube show. "We will find you and apprehend you and put you in a detention facility and deport you."
Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem confirmed that Immigration and Customs Enforcement will monitor the big game, which will take place at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Feb. 8, 2026.
"Yeah, we'll be all over that place, 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."
To give a sense of the musician's popularity, the rapper and reggaeton artist boasted the third-most streams globally on Spotify last year, without releasing an album in 2024.
Bad Bunny performs during his "Most Wanted" tour at Barclays Center on April 11, 2024 in New York City. Prior to the Super Bowl news, Bad Bunny, the stage name of Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, announced he would not be touring in the U.S. on his current Debí Tirar Más Fotos tour due to ICE raid concerns for his fans.
"There were many reasons why I didn't show up in the U.S., and none of them were out of hate — I've performed there many times," he previously explained. "But there was the issue of — like, f—ing ICE could be outside [my concert]. And it's something that we were talking about and very concerned about."
Tonight's premiere also introduced five new cast members, Tommy Brennan, Jeremy Culhane, Ben Marshall, Kam Patterson, and Veronika Slowikowska. Their introduction follows a bit of a cast shakeup that saw the exits of Heidi Gardner, Michael Longfellow, Ego Nwodim, Emil Wakim, and Devon Walker.
Hmm, I guess this pretty much rules out me watching the half time entertainment. I don't speak Spanish and have no intent to learn Spanish. Spent the majority of my adult life in the military, tours in non-English speaking countries is not unusual. Always attempted to learn at least some of the language where I went. I don't consider it that location's citizen to have to learn my spoken language. The NFL's marketing folks are trying to bring in other cultures into their fold all while driving their base fans away from the game. Doesn't make much sense to me.
Originally posted by blackrams: ... Hmm, I guess this pretty much rules out me watching the half time entertainment. I don't speak Spanish and have no intent to learn Spanish.
Rams
I have thought about learning Spanish. But it's been way down my list of priorities. Still is. So... meh. But this is from the same people/mindset who endorsed "taking a knee" during the national anthem, and "cancelling" the 2021 MLB All Star game in Atlanta. I'm certainly not surprised. I also won't be surprised if this is the lowest rated Superbowl in recent history. What else can they do to alienate their base?
quote
... Prior to the Super Bowl news, Bad Bunny, the stage name of Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, announced he would not be touring in the U.S. on his current Debí Tirar Más Fotos tour due to ICE raid concerns for his fans.
Well, darn. I'm just crushed.
To tell the truth, I'd never even heard of this... person, until the Super Bowl announcement. And then I was like... "Ohhhhhhkayyyy. Who? WTF is a 'Bad Bunny'?"
[This message has been edited by Raydar (edited 10-05-2025).]
I'll admit to being a baseball fan - but not a rabid one. I can count on a fraction of one hand how many Braves games I've seen or heard in their entirety, this season. I'm usually doing something else.
NFL? I have to have absolutely nothing else to do - and there must be absolutely nothing else on - in order for me to sit and watch anything happening on the screen. Mostly, I don't care.
Basketball, in all forms, could simply vanish, and I would barely notice.
Hockey is okay, but not something I pursue. Again, I'll usually find something else to do.
What really annoys me more than anything, is that all of the major networks have seen fit to play ballgames of some sort, up until almost midnight. When all I really want to do is see the local news and weather, it's usually, "Oh look, honey! It's sportsball!" - on every freakin' channel."
I looked up a few of his songs. I figured he might be like Pit Bull or many other Latin rappers who have song that are part English and part Spanish. From the limited number that I sampled, they were all Spanish. I was also very annoyed that he autotunes his voice to a great degree.
I think this halftime show is not going to go over well. Most the country will have no idea what he is saying. His Spanish rap raggae is not going to be liked.
I looked up a few of his songs. I figured he might be like Pit Bull or many other Latin rappers who have song that are part English and part Spanish. From the limited number that I sampled, they were all Spanish. I was also very annoyed that he autotunes his voice to a great degree.
I think this halftime show is not going to go over well. Most the country will have no idea what he is saying. His Spanish rap raggae is not going to be liked.
Sorry but, I have to suggest most of the country will have no idea what he's saying or singing because, they won't be watching the halftime show. Those that are watching will be watching just to see the creative commercials though.
Rams
[This message has been edited by blackrams (edited 10-05-2025).]
I learned how to order a beer, ask where the restroom is and how to count to 10 from my grandfather. The rest of my spanish came from a cartoon mouse they tried to cancel
Haven't watch a superbowl, ever let alone a half time. Bad Bunny? Controversy is the only reason anyone knows who he is.
Those that are watching will be watching just to see the creative commercials though. 
