Danica Patrick’s social-media broadside set off a firestorm after the NFL, Apple Music, and Roc Nation announced Bad Bunny would headline the 2026 Apple Music Super Bowl halftime show. Patrick reposted and replied on X, writing, “Oh fun. No songs in English should not be allowed at one of America’s highest rated television events of the year… not just for sports,” a line that quickly circulated and drew heavy pushback online.
The controversy arose, as the American commentator added on X, critiquing Bad Bunny, “This is Bad Bunny. He was just announced as the 2026 Super Bowl halftime show. – Massive Trump hater – Anti-ICE activist – No songs in English He even canceled his entire U.S. tour for this reason: “F***ing ICE could be outside my concert. And it’s something that we were talking about and very concerned about.” The NFL is self-destructing year after year.” Some conservatives and commentators have questioned the pick because the artist is politically outspoken and largely records in Spanish, while celebrities, Latino organizations, and many fans defended the selection as a milestone for representation.
Among the supporters was Daniel Suárez’s wife, Julia Piquet, who took to social media, criticizing Patrick, writing on X, “Imagine being threatened by another language at a halftime show.” As many critics invoke xenophobic language and even question Bad Bunny’s American identity despite him being a U.S. citizen from Puerto Rico, the move seemed controversial for many. At the same time, voices, including Whoopi Goldberg and others, publicly celebrated the choice as a win for Latino culture. It strikes a chord for Piquet as Suárez himself being a Mexican is often treated as an outsider in the U.S., calling for greater inclusivity in the sports arena.
This is a developing story.