Amid a wave of social-media backlash from conservative commentators and self-styled MAGA activists calling for a boycott, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell confirmed that Bad Bunny will remain the headliner for the Super Bowl LX Halftime Show in 2026.

“It’s carefully thought through,” Goodell told the Associated Press on Friday. “I’m not sure we’ve ever selected an artist where we didn’t have some blowback or criticism. It’s pretty hard to do when you have literally hundreds of millions of people that are watching. We’re confident it’s going to be a great show.”

“He Understands the Platform”

The commissioner emphasized that the Puerto Rican megastar, whose real name is Benito Martínez Ocasio, knows the gravity of performing on the world’s biggest stage.

“He understands the platform that he’s on,” Goodell said. “He’s one of the leading and most popular entertainers in the world. That’s what we try to achieve. It’s an important stage for us — an important element to the entertainment value.”

The remarks followed days of online outrage after the announcement that Bad Bunny would headline next year’s halftime show. Right-wing commentators criticized the decision as “too political,” citing the artist’s outspoken support for Puerto Rican identity, LGBTQ+ rights, and progressive causes.

Others celebrated the choice as proof that the NFL is embracing global diversity in a sport still rooted in American tradition.

From San Juan to Super Bowl 60

For Bad Bunny, the gig caps a meteoric rise from SoundCloud rapper to global icon. The artist has topped Billboard charts in multiple languages, sold out stadiums worldwide, and become a cultural ambassador for Latin music.

His presence on the Super Bowl stage represents a seismic moment for representation — the first Latin headliner since Shakira and Jennifer Lopez in 2020, and the first solo Puerto Rican artist to carry the show on his own.

Entertainment analyst Rachel Stein said the decision signals a clear strategic pivot:

“The NFL understands that halftime isn’t just a concert; it’s a statement about where American culture is headed. Choosing Bad Bunny tells the world that the league sees its audience as global, young, and multicultural.”

The Political Whiplash

The backlash was swift. Within hours of the announcement, hashtags like #BoycottNFL and #KeepPoliticsOutOfFootball trended on X (formerly Twitter), fueled by conservative influencers who accused the league of “pandering to woke culture.”

Fox News commentator Tucker McNeil called the choice “a slap in the face to traditional fans,” while others resurrected older controversies — from kneeling protests to past halftime performances by Beyoncé and Rihanna — framing the move as part of a broader ideological shift inside the league.

Still, polling by Morning Consult on Friday showed that 67 percent of respondents under 35 supported the decision, citing Bad Bunny’s artistry and inclusivity.

“Every year there’s outrage, and every year the halftime show breaks records,” said sports media analyst Corey Lang. “The NFL knows that controversy equals curiosity. People will tune in — even the ones complaining.”

A Balancing Act Between Profit and Principles

Behind the spectacle lies a delicate business equation. The Super Bowl Halftime Show has evolved from a 12-minute performance into a multi-million-dollar cultural statement that attracts global sponsors and viewers far beyond football’s core demographic.

By tapping Bad Bunny, the league is doubling down on its international ambitions. His 2023 tour was the highest-grossing in the world, and his streaming numbers consistently top charts across Latin America and Europe.

“This isn’t about politics,” said one NFL executive who spoke on background. “It’s about reach. Bad Bunny brings in markets that no other artist can — and that’s exactly what advertisers want.”

A Stage Where Culture Collides

While the halftime show has always courted spectacle, it has increasingly become a mirror of American tension — between tradition and change, unity and division.

From Prince’s rain-soaked guitar solo in 2007 to Rihanna’s defiant pregnancy reveal in 2023, the event has morphed into something larger than entertainment: a national temperature check.

“It’s the one moment every year when music, identity, and sports collide in front of the whole world,” said pop-culture historian Leah Montgomery. “The outrage is part of the ritual now.”

“A United Moment”

Goodell insists the 2026 show will focus on connection rather than controversy.

“We’re confident it’s going to be exciting and a united moment,” he said.

According to insiders, early creative plans blend Latin percussion, hip-hop, and Americana imagery — a performance meant to celebrate both Bad Bunny’s roots and football’s national reach.

As the countdown to Super Bowl 60 begins, one truth remains: the halftime stage has never just been about music. It’s about who gets to stand there — and what their presence says about the country watching.

For now, the NFL is standing firm.

Bad Bunny is still headlining.

And, come February 2026, the world will be watching — whether in applause, criticism, or both.