Bad Bunny Brought Political Divisiveness to the Super Bowl
On his Saturday morning show, CNN’s Michael Smerconish expressed his hope that Puerto Rican rapper Bad Bunny would not bring political controversy and division to the Super Bowl. Smerconish said that the Super Bowl may be the most unifying event we have in America – noting that tens of millions of folks from all backgrounds would be watching For Smerconish, the Super Bowl represented and electronic common ground.
As far as Smerconish went, he was right. People watching were bonded by a love of the American sport – even if they were fans of different teams. In fact, many have pleaded in the past to keep divisive political expressions out of all sports – and other venues not related to politics.
Bad Bunny did not use the halftime program to express hardcore political views – and yet political controversy raged in the show’s aftermath. That is because Smerconish missed the salient point. In selecting a politically controversial personality to headline the halftime show, the NFL guaranteed a political reaction. It was built in. Bad Bunny had already established himself as a controversial political partisan during the Grammy Awards.
The fact that choosing Bad Bunny guaranteed controversy, Turning Point USA responded by producing an “alternative” halftime program with popular entertainer favored by folks on the right. It did not prove to be the alternative they had hoped for. Bad Bunny attracted more than 180 million viewers compared to 12 million for the alternative — which was a great show with great talent regardless.
Bad Bunny’s performance as an entertainer was judged along political lines. It could not have been otherwise. The MAGA right was harshly critical. President Trump said it was “absolutely terrible.” “One of the worst, EVER!” Booking Bad Bunny was such a bad decision that there are calls for NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell to resign.
It is not the first time the NFL has been accused of engaging in woke policies and actions. In the past, various players have disrespected the National Anthem by refusing to stand, kneeling or turning their backs –although that did not happen at the 2026 Super Bowl.
Those on the left were effusively generous in their praise of the Bad Bunny halftime show. MS NOW’s resident propagandist, Nicole Wallace, gave the show her best panty-wetting praise. “It was awesome, even if you didn’t understand a word …” For Wallace, it was the best performance … ever.
Both Trump and Wallace are wrong. It was not the worst musical program ever – but it was not nearly the best. It was okay. The fair criticism came from those not driven by political purpose. Some fairly criticized the format — produced for television, not the folks in the stands – and the fact that it was almost exclusively in Spanish. Only Lady Gaga offered some English lyrics. (As an iconic American event, I personally believe that criticism has some justification.)
Smerconish was spot on in calling for the Super Bowl to be left as a moment of unity – leaving the divisive politics behind. But by the time he expressed that hope, it was too late. The NFL had already chosen Bad Bunny – a divisive personality. The post-performance controversy was baked in.
Whether Bad Bunny expressed it or not, his political brand was on the show. Maybe next year the NFL will provide something more unifying.
So, there ‘tis.
Why is this still an issue? How about moving on? Mulling it over only creates more divisiveness. Bad Bunny is just an entertainer. Nothing else. But this stewpid controversy is making him more special. Ignoring it all would serve everyone else better, but no one seems to be doing that. How sad.
Frankly!!! I never turned on the tv to even watch the idiot perform. Frankly I haven’t watched football since Kaepernick took the knee.
You got a point, Michelle. I would have passed on the half-time show for snacks n meal, but the hoopla dragged me back. But anything to divert from the three-ring circus from ICE to Greenland to GAZA to VZ to Epstein to reality-show Congressional oversight hearings that look like Jerry Springer. And whatever crisis of the day pops. Oh what a chaotic year, but that’s what we voted for. Are you not entertained?
Did Bad Bunny bring divisiveness to the Superbowl, or did he expose it? The President declares the game a bridge to far to go to (doesn’t the man have his own jet he can copter to for a no-wait take-off?) meaning something spooked him. Turning Point announces an alternative half-time show needed to counter the counter-culture I guess. Larry says the game is unifying event because he’s watching CNN and they told him so. If Larry is watching CNN, if Larry is listening to CNN, I would say unification is mission accomplished :>)
Myself, I could care less, I am a Commanders fan and my season was over before it began so I am watching for the ads, a good game, and will glance at half-time. It’s my one Woke peccadillo, I had to toss my Redskins gear except for the Theismann autograph and my picture with Riggins. The ads were enjoyable, didn’t bowl (pun intended) me over, the game – meh, and Bad Bunny’s half time show kept me engaged with the staging and his daring dancing, but my Latin gave me not a clue what was being said.
I looked first at the Grammy’s and indeed he said ICE Out so if you are an ICE policy fan, he’s your Jane Fonda. But seen much worse. How Larry expected the Superbowl folks to drop him after that seems silly given the timing. Then I looked at his words for the Superbowl and I am wondering why your knickers done be knotted. The only English words were “God Bless America,” and the rest was mostly about “the Americas,” and how you can be who you are, who you want to be, and still make it on your own —- his story. But divisive?
Then I turned to Turning Point (pun intended) to see if I could enjoy “the real America” and I checked the lyrics to find: one song celebrates being part of the drinking class as role models for today’s youth. Another highlights happy days of drinking and driving as in: “Laid back swervin’ like I’m George Jones, Smoke rollin’ out the window, an ice cold (wait, ICE COLD, isn’t that political?) beer sittin’ in the console Yupper, open beer, a swerving and a smokin, kids look up to these role models to show you how to break the law for a good ole American DUI). The next one talks about the Real American; spoiler alert, more drinking: “We got them good times on ice, and Old Glory’s on a can.” (good ICE times sounds like they backshooting people again). Kid Rock’s headliner spoke of all sorts of alcohol, adding topless dancers, 40’s, Southern Comfort, crackheads, shooting up, Jack, Meth —- and this is considered one of his best. Kid ended with “til you can’t,” finally a song not about drinkin and druggin. But I think the damage had been done, I think we know that one guy sung nicely about image and the Americas and the others drinking, drugging, and talking lots on ice).
I am sorry Larry, is this what you call an acceptable alternative to Bad Bunny who did not sing about alcohol, did not sing about drugs, but instead sang about America, all of America, with the only English being the phrase: God Bless America? Is drinking and drugging superior to “God Bless America” and self-achievement without identify sacrifice? BBunny’s staging was creative and daring. Anyone who climbs a ladder to a small platform swaying in the breeze, not strapped in, is pretty daring.
Meanwhile, and I digress to digest: I’m watching the Olympics’ opening and they are singing in Italian as the transcript shows: “foreign language.” I find that unprofessional. Where are the words? BBunny had the Spanish, the only thing I missed was a live translation. I have no issue with singing in a foreign language; rumor has it that it happens across the globe all the time. The Olympics was bogus not to show it in the captioning. Especially since they knew the words before the show. But for BBunny, just think him having decided to do that, it would be nice to translate real time versus doing it yourself later. I mean for the cause of transparency, let’s see what’s being sung, if you can.
In toto though, the show held my interest, I think there is far less to get upset about in BB and plenty to sigh about in Turning Point’s example for America’s youth.
As to division: that ship and passed and it will get worse before better. I thought last summer would be hot, it was. This Spring will build tempo all the way until the mid-terms. At least.
Another frank rant, yippee. It wasn’t really ‘divisive’ per se. It was totally distasteful, and definitely NOT family oriented. That IS the issue at hand, a man gyrating and grabbing his crotch while singing about an anaconda. The ISSUE Michelle, is that this was shoved down our throats, and the NFL, like Lucy, has a lot of ‘splaining to do. As for those who say you didn’t have to watch it, since they sprung it on us, that’s a totally bullshit response.
Big AI is so funny. I agree with him that “crotch grabbing” is as low as the name calling Big Ahole and others fling about their cages here. Never liked it with Jackson, and he was less sexual than BB.
Distasteful, I can see that. But how did you find anaconda? Do you speak Spanish or is just hearing Spanish distasteful to you? Not family oriented —- have you ever watched a half-time show? Janet Jackson’s whoredrobe malfunction? MIA bird flipping? Lopez with kids in cages to ICE you out? Eminem taking the knee? Beyonce black panther? I am sorry, but did you spend those Superbowls at the convent? My personal affront was The Stones — so old I thought Mick might buy the big one, figured Keith was already The Walking Dead, but I was right there as he sang out: “One time you were my baby chicken, now you’ve grown into a fox. Once upon a time I was your little rooster but am I just one of your cocks.” Did you protest that slimy anaconda in 2006?
Let me digest to digress: in my youth, my cutoffs showed pocket, lots of pocket. Yes, they were rude, I was crude, and certainly had attitude. But I was young and free in the 70’s and an original American revolutionary. A rebel without a clue. Today, I hate that shit, don’t even like thongs at the beach. I really hate tats; I love art, but the kind you can take down from the wall and replace. Not for life. BUT in all this — when I see purple hair, face jewels, full body tats, I remember my youth, chuckle, and look to a person’s words, actions, and accomplishments, not looks or style, as the measure of a person. I am Woke to that and glad to be. FYI: if you do come in my house with ass showing, tats everywhere, a nose ring, I may laugh hysterically, but that too, is OK in the Woke world —- or at least it is to me.
But in his righteous indignation, Big AI loses any sort of critical mindset and agrees to anything anyone says that fuels his fire. He is a sheeple and can be herded. He freely accepts a lie if it fits his preconceived paradigm. He becomes the liar. That’s the sad part. That Big A is blinded by the light of darkness that is the stupidity of the maga race. In this case, he’s probably listening to Don Jr, son of a liar and liar in force. Don Jr says it from somewhere, and it is then picked up by asshole commentators, podcasters and big assholes everywhere, all blaming Big Bunny after hearing it said from another Latino rapper. You know, all those brown people look and act alike. It’s just amazing how this shit travels your blogosphere at twice the speed of light and when finally unmasked, you applaud the liar and give him more money.
Big Bunnies song: Safaera is Puerto Rican slang for “debauchery” or “letting loose” and the song lives up to it’s name. It’s awfully raunchy. Terribly totally distasteful IMO and certainly not for family. However, I scrubbed this very dirty song and the word Anaconda is not there, nor the word snake, nor any other snake name including no Big AI. Big AI made that up about the anaconda; he lies through his teeth, and I am betting that he will not apologize for his stupidity I am betting he will not own up to his mistake on PBP. If he does not, he is a lying coward.
Worse yet for this self-righteous, sanctimonious, sack of suds, according to the right wing msm market leader New York Post: “Bad Bunny’s controversial Super Bowl halftime act has been scrutinized by the Federal Communications Commission for potential violations of its rules that prohibit “indecent material” and offensive language on public airwaves.” BBunny complied and the song is heavily redacted and homogenized. The FCC’s take was that the act and the songs that the Puerto Rican rapper belted out during the halftime show — “Tití Me Preguntó, ”Monaco,” and “Safaera” — were scrubbed of lyrics that normally include references to sex acts and genitalia.”
BUSTED for being prudish to the point of blocking out the truth. Ouch, that’s gotta burn. Poned!
And shoved down your throats? Maybe in a bar, but at your home too? You heard about the Grammys, you saw the lead-up to the show. Who the fuck nailed your ass to the sofa and turned down the lights and upped the volume? Don’t you control your own house even?
I did not like the crotch grab, no art in that or the twerking, but it does seem to be the art of the times. But really Bid A; do you have to lie to make your point?
Dunger did you really throw rocks at black people in Harper’s Ferry WV?