Republican Senator Bernie Moreno of Ohio has joined a growing chorus of conservatives denouncing the NFL’s decision to book Puerto Rican superstar Bad Bunny as the Super Bowl LX halftime performer, calling it a “partisan” and “insulting” move that disrespects American traditions.
“The NFL made a decision that was clearly partisan,” Moreno said in an interview with independent journalist Nicholas Ballasy. “Why else would you pick, you know, some second-rate musician to play in our greatest sporting event? It makes no sense whatsoever. I thought the guy’s Saturday Night Live appearance was insulting to the country.”
Moreno, a first-term senator and outspoken ally of President Donald Trump, argued that the halftime show should “bring the country together” rather than, in his view, highlight divisions.
“I hope they reverse course and bring a great American performer in there that brings pride into America,” Moreno said, calling Bad Bunny’s booking a product of “Trump derangement syndrome.”
Why It Matters
Bad Bunny—born Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio—has been Spotify’s most-streamed artist worldwide for four consecutive years. His 31-show residency in Puerto Rico this year generated nearly $700 million for the local economy and made global headlines. The NFL called him “the most popular artist on Earth” when announcing his upcoming performance on September 28, underscoring both his commercial power and cross-cultural influence.
But the announcement also sparked backlash from conservative commentators, who criticized Bad Bunny’s political views, including his past criticism of Trump and support for Puerto Rican independence. The reaction intensified after his recent Saturday Night Live appearance, where he opened his monologue in Spanish and joked, “If you didn’t understand what I just said, you have four months to learn.” What was meant as playful confidence quickly became a rallying point for his critics.
What To Know
Moreno is one of the last GOP politicians to criticize the NFL’s decision to have Bad Bunny headline the next Super Bowl at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California. Republican Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene called his SNL monologue “perverse” and urged Congress to pass her bill making English the official national language before the game, something Trump has already claimed to do by executive order.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said ICE agents would be “all over” the event. On Fox News, Tomi Lahren accused Bad Bunny of “hating America, hating President Trump, hating the English language.” Even Trump weighed in, calling the NFL’s choice “absolutely ridiculous” before admitting he didn’t know who Bad Bunny was.
While the NFL has faced criticism in recent years over political controversies surrounding its halftime shows, the decision to feature Bad Bunny also aligns with its commercial ambitions. The show will be produced by Roc Nation, the company founded by Jay-Z, as part of a partnership launched in 2019 to diversify the league’s entertainment lineup and appeal to younger and more global audiences.
“What Benito has done and continues to do for Puerto Rico is truly inspiring,” Jay-Z said in a statement. “We are honored to have him on the world’s biggest stage.”
Still, the prospect of having Bad Bunny perform in the same stadium as the president has drawn attention. The Puerto Rican rapper supported Vice President Kamala Harris during the 2024 election and declined to tour the continental U.S. this year, citing concerns for his fans’ safety amid intensified ICE crackdowns.
What People Are Saying
Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, on X: “Bad Bunny says America has four months to learn Spanish before his perverse, unwanted performance at the Super Bowl halftime.”
Former NASCAR driver turned conservative commentator Danica Patrick, on X: “Oh fun. No songs in English should be allowed at one of America’s highest-rated television events of the year…not just for sports.”
Amílcar Barreto, a political science professor at Northeastern University, told Newsweek: “If you’re thinking about music culture right now, he’s at the top of the summit. But by doing it in Spanish, he’s challenging the idea that English is the only legitimate language in American life. That’s why it reads like a provocation—it’s not just music.”
Amelia Tseng, linguistics director in the Department of World Languages and Cultures at American University, told Newsweek: “It’s controversial because language is a symbol of identity, and we’re in a moment of cultural battle over who America is. The Super Bowl is a giant stage for American identity. But it’s important to recognize that America is, and has always been, multilingual and multicultural, and that the conversation around what it means to be American ebbs and flows.”
What Happens Next
Bad Bunny’s upcoming performance in Santa Monica will mark his second appearance on the Super Bowl stage. He previously joined Shakira and Jennifer Lopez at their 2020 halftime show, which was the first time the event was led by Latino performers.
The Super Bowl remains the most-watched broadcast in the United States, drawing more than 110 million viewers last year, with 30-second ad spots costing approximately $7 million.