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On Sunday, Sept. 28, Bad Bunny<\/strong>, whose real name is\u00a0Benito Antonio Mart\u00ednez Ocasio<\/strong>, was announced as the next Super Bowl performer.<\/p>\n The Puerto Rican star will make history as the first male Latin artist to headline the halftime show. However, since being announced, the artist has been met with intense backlash.<\/p>\n Conservative leaders, including\u00a0President\u00a0Donald Trump<\/a><\/strong>, have criticized the choice as the singer performs primarily in Spanish. On Oct. 4, Homeland Security Secretary\u00a0Kristi Noem<\/strong>\u00a0confirmed that ICE agents would be patrolling the Super Bowl.<\/p>\n Others who have criticized the choice include former NASCAR driver Danica Patrick<\/strong>.<\/p>\n \u201cOh fun,\u201d she wrote on X after the announcement with an eye roll\u00a0emoji<\/a>. \u201cNo songs in English should not be allowed at one of America\u2019s highest rated television events of the year\u2026 not just for sports.\u201d<\/p>\n In protest of Bad Bunny’s halftime, Charlie Kirk’<\/strong>s organization Turning Point USA announced their own “All American” Super Bowl Halftime Show headlined by Kid Rock<\/strong>.<\/p>\n The Grammy-winning musician addressed the criticism during his opening monologue while hosting the Saturday, Oct. 4 episode of Saturday Night Live.<\/p>\n “I’m very excited to be doing the Super Bowl, and I know that people all around the world who love my music are also happy,” Bad Bunny said in English, before switching to his native Spanish: “Especially all the Latinos and Latinas across the world, and here, in the United States, all those who have worked to open doors,” he said.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s more than an achievement for myself, it\u2019s an achievement for all of us,” he continued. “It shows our footprint, and our contribution to this country, that no one will ever be able to take away or erase.”<\/p>\n RELATED:\u00a0Fans Call Out Danica Patrick for Using Bad Bunny Song Before Bashing Him Online<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n During a Thursday, Oct. 9 appearance on\u00a0CBS<\/a>\u00a0Mornings, the 2020\u00a0Super Bowl<\/a>Halftime Show<\/a>\u00a0performer was asked how she felt about backlash against the Puerto Rican star since he was announced as the next headliner.<\/p>\n \u201cMusic and art transcends language. It doesn\u2019t matter. He\u2019s done that probably more than anybody of any generation,\u201d Lopez said. \u201cThe Super Bowl is great because it introduces you to people that don\u2019t know you. I\u2019m sure there was people that didn\u2019t know me or\u00a0Shakira<\/a>\u00a0or weren\u2019t fans of ours.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut when they saw us, [they said] \u2018Oh! That\u2019s what they do.\u2019 It\u2019s an opportunity to show people who you are, what you\u2019re about, what you believe in,\u201d she continued. \u201cIt\u2019s a big platform for artists. It\u2019s probably the biggest stage that you could hope to be on. And I think it\u2019s wonderful that people will get exposed to him who don\u2019t know him.\u201d<\/p>\n RELATED: Jennifer Lopez Defends Bad Bunny Amid Super Bowl Backlash<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Shakira<\/strong> performed alongside Lopez during the Super Bowl Halftime Show in 2020. She and Lopez were the first female Latin co-headliners of the show, and now Bad Bunny will make history as the first Latin male.<\/p>\n \u201cWelcome back to the Super Bowl stage!\u201d she wrote on her Instagram Stories following the announcement, adding, \u201cAqu\u00ed va mi gente latina!!\u201d<\/p>\n Shawn \u201cJAY-Z\u201d Carter<\/strong>, who serves as the\u00a0NFL\u2019s live music entertainment strategist,\u00a0praised this year\u2019s choice in an interview with Vibe<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat Benito has done and continues to do for Puerto Rico is truly inspiring,” he said. “We are honored to have him on the world\u2019s biggest stage.\u201d<\/p>\n The pop singer, who headlined the Super Bowl in 2014 and was a guest performer in 2016, reshared a statement Bad Bunny made about his upcoming performance on X<\/a>, adding, “Go get em Bad Bunny!”<\/p>\n During an interview with the\u00a0ESPN LA 710 AM show<\/a> on Oct. 1, the basketball player raved about attending Bad Bunny’s residency in Puerto Rico and shared his thoughts on the upcoming halftime show.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m super happy for Bad Bunny that he\u2019s able to represent the Super Bowl in San Francisco,\u201d he said. \u201cThat\u2019s gonna be super dope and hopefully, I could be there, man, to support him. He\u2019s a great friend of mine. So I think that was great to see.\u201d<\/p>\n Under Bad Bunny’s announcement post on Instagram<\/a>, the country singer wrote, “From Wrestlemania to the Super Bowl- you inspire us all! Much love \ud83d\udc30.”<\/p>\n The Cuban-American singer-songwriter and two-time Super Bowl halftime show performer gushed over the musician during a Sept. 29 appearance on the\u00a0Sherri show.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m so happy for him \u2026 I think it\u2019s great,\u201d she said. \u201cI think we need Latino representation in this particular moment. The Latinos have burned up that show. I have done two of them.\u201d<\/p>\n \ud83c\udfacSIGN UP for Parade\u2019s Daily newsletter to get the latest pop culture news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox\ud83c\udfac<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n This story was originally reported by Parade<\/a> on Oct 13, 2025, where it first appeared in the News<\/a> section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.<\/a><\/i><\/p>\n<\/div>\nJennifer Lopez<\/h2>\n
Shakira<\/h2>\n
Jay-Z<\/h2>\n
Bruno Mars<\/h2>\n
LeBron James<\/h2>\n
Jelly Roll<\/h2>\n
Gloria Estefan<\/h2>\n