The lights of Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara pulsed in rhythm to the closing notes of “Debí Tirar Más Fotos.” Dancers filled the field carrying rows of raised flags. From Brazil to Colombia, Mexico to Canada, America’s countries came together in a colorful celebration of representation and unity. The jumbotron illuminated a sea of faces and “The only thing more powerful than hate is love.” The stillness that followed the message, the way the stadium held its breath as the words sank in, was a stirring example of the power of music and the way it can reach each and every one of us.
The stillness that followed the message was a stirring example of the power of music and the way it can reach each and every one of us.
Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl performance was a historic moment, a true breakthrough extending far beyond entertainment. It was the first-ever Super Bowl halftime show performed entirely in Spanish.
This highlighted a multicultural America at a time when it is being undermined. Former president Barack Obama endorsed the performance as an example of what Martin Luther King Jr. called “beloved community.” He highlighted the show’s broad resonance; even for non-Spanish speakers, the images of elderly women serving drinks and kids dancing with their grandparents communicated warmth and belonging. The performance actively offered a vision of integration.
Political backlash began even before the show started. After the show, Republican Representatives Andy Ogles (R-TN) and Randy Fine (R-AZ) called for federal scrutiny, claiming the performance included sexually explicit content and was too indecent to be broadcast worldwide. However, according to The New York Post, songs that political leaders accused of being inappropriate like “Safaera,” “Monaco,” and “Titi Me Pregunto” were “scrubbed” of lyrics that would normally have included references to sexual acts. During the 13-minute show, Bad Bunny didn’t include any explicit language.
Bad Bunny’s cultural and political commentary during his career generated much of the controversy, particularly among MAGA supporters, who objected to the halftime show on the principle that it would be performed in Spanish. President Donald Trump criticized the show, calling it “an affront to the greatness of America.” Many viewed Trump’s comment as not only a direct attack on Latin culture and identity, but as a troubling claim about who and what belongs on America’s biggest stage.
All this backlash raises questions about what, exactly, was so threatening about his performance. It contained no explicit language, adhered to broadcasting policies, and spread a powerful message of love and cultural unity.
The outrage, then, seems to stem not from concern about vulgarity, but from resentment that a Spanish-speaking artist has gained the opportunity to headline one of the biggest performances in America.
If millions of U.S. citizens speak Spanish daily, why is Bad Bunny being rejected and treated as an alien? Why is unity only celebrated when it conforms to one narrow version of what American culture should be?
The reactions that erupted reveal many Americans’ resistance to a culture that has always existed and highlight the very real social barriers and biases Latinos face.
If Latin artists are welcomed only when they assimilate to English-language norms, then America’s acceptance operates conditionally.
Latin artists like Shakira and Jennifer Lopez have performed at the Super Bowl. While their shows did generate some backlash, criticism centered on their dance styles and what some labeled “sexual” movements, and the performances were ultimately celebrated and widely praised. This public embrace was due in large part to the fact that they incorporated significant English into their performances that aligned with the audience’s established comfort levels.
So was the issue ever really about explicitness? Or was it actually about language and culture all along?
Bad Bunny has forced America to confront the truth. We praise diversity theoretically. Yet when it is truly manifested, it is met with resistance and criticism.
If a message of love, unity, and community can still cause controversy, then the real question we should be asking ourselves isn’t whether or not Bad Bunny’s show belonged on the Super Bowl stage, but whether America is truly ready to embrace the diversity it so frequently claims to celebrate.
