Who Is the Super Bowl Headliner, Bad Bunny – And Why Is He So Controversial This Year?

As the Super Bowl approaches, one performer is making headlines for more than just his music — sparking controversy, fan debate, and federal attention.

The countdown is on — and the stakes could not be higher. As the lights prepare to blaze and the eyes of the world turn toward San Francisco, Latin music superstar Bad Bunny is getting ready to step onto the biggest stage of his career: the Super Bowl LX Halftime Show.

But behind the glitter, fireworks, and thundering bass lies a storm of political tension, cultural symbolism, and raw controversy that has already set the internet ablaze.

Many expect the Grammy-winning performer to once again use the moment to speak out against immigration enforcement, a move that has already ignited fierce debate across social media and political circles alike. Still, despite the uproar, the NFL is standing firm.

A Market Decision Wrapped in Global Ambition

League officials insist the decision reflects the unstoppable global rise of Latin music and the NFL's aggressive push into international markets. According to Spotify, Latin music now accounts for 27 percent of all streams, up from just eight percent ten years ago.

Bad Bunny himself was the platform's most-streamed artist in 2025, with 19.8 billion streams. "It was absolutely a market decision," said Jorell Meléndez-Badillo, a Latin American studies professor who has worked with Bad Bunny on past projects. "The NFL wants to expand internationally... he has a huge following in the United States, but this stage will also be amplified internationally by having someone like him."

Bad Bunny's halftime performance will cap off a whirlwind year for the artist born Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio. Between a sold-out residency in Puerto Rico and appearances in two major films — "Happy Gilmore 2" with Adam Sandler and "Caught Stealing" with Austin Butler — the star has been seemingly everywhere.

Forbes estimates his 2025 earnings at 66 million dollars before taxes and fees, placing him at No. 10 among the world's highest-paid musicians.

Millions in Exposure — But Not a Paycheck

Yet despite the jaw-dropping numbers, Bad Bunny will not be paid for the Super Bowl. Like many headliners before him, he will perform for free, aside from a union-minimum fee, in exchange for exposure that money cannot buy. Last year's halftime show averaged 133.5 million live viewers. On YouTube, it surged past 157 million views.

The payoff can be enormous. After Kendrick Lamar's Super Bowl set in 2025, streams of his hit song "Not Like Us" skyrocketed by 430 percent. He followed that momentum with a tour that grossed nearly 360 million dollars. Bad Bunny may be hoping for similar results — but not without stepping directly into controversy.

Fear, ICE, and a Grammy Night That Shocked the Room

In September 2025, the singer explained why he skipped U.S. cities on his world tour. "There were many reasons why I didn't show up in the U.S., and none of them were out of hate," he said. One major reason? Fear that ICE "could be outside" his concerts.

That anxiety spilled onto one of music's most prestigious stages on Sunday, February 1. When Bad Bunny accepted Album of the Year at the 2026 Grammy Awards for "Tirar Más Fotos," his remarks went far beyond music. The historic win marked the first time a Spanish-language album claimed the ceremony's top honor.

As he took the stage, he addressed U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement directly. "ICE out!" he said to the audience. "We're not savage, we're not animals, we're not aliens. We are humans, and we are Americans."

The room erupted in a standing ovation. Bad Bunny, who had been nominated in 16 categories and won six Grammys that night, continued with an emotional reflection on the nation's mood. He said it can be difficult "not to hate these days," using the Spanish word "contaminado," which he explained means "contaminated" in English.

He closed with a message of defiance and hope, saying that "the only thing that is more powerful than hate is love." Those words only intensified scrutiny as he prepares to headline the Super Bowl LX Halftime Show in February.

Political Firestorm and a Chilling Warning

The controversy has drawn in figures far beyond the world of sports. In October 2025, during an appearance on "The Benny Show" podcast, political adviser Corey Lewandowski was asked whether immigration enforcement would take place at the Super Bowl, specifically during Bad Bunny’s halftime performance.

"There is nowhere you can provide safe haven to people who are in this country illegally," Lewandowski said. "Not the Super Bowl and nowhere else. We will find you and apprehend you and put you in a detention facility and deport you."

He doubled down, calling it a core federal priority. "So know that is a very real situation under this administration, which is contrary to how it used to be," he added. The remarks fueled fears that ICE agents would be active during the Super Bowl, alarming advocacy groups and local officials as February approaches.

Bad Bunny has been unapologetically outspoken in his criticism of the Trump administration — a stance that has only intensified the controversy surrounding his Super Bowl spotlight.

In October 2025, the backlash reached the Oval Office itself. During a Monday appearance on “Greg Kelly Reports,” President Donald Trump weighed in on the NFL’s decision to select Bad Bunny as the Super Bowl halftime performer, making his disdain unmistakably clear.

"I never heard of him. I don't know who he is. I don't know why they're doing it. I think it’s absolutely ridiculous," Trump said.

A $16 Million Lawsuit Looms in the Background

As if the political tension were not enough, Bad Bunny is also facing serious legal trouble off the field. The artist has been hit with a 16 million dollar lawsuit filed in Puerto Rico by Tainaly Y. Serrano Rivera. She alleges that a voice recording she made was used in two of his songs without her permission.

According to reports by Rolling Stone and Billboard, the clip appears in “Solo de Mi” from his 2018 album "X100pre," and again in "EoO" from his 2025 album "Debí Tirar Más Fotos."

In the recording, Rivera says, "Mira, puñeta, no me quiten el perrero," a phrase she claims has become inseparable from Bad Bunny's brand, played at live shows and printed on merchandise.

Rivera says she never signed a contract and was never told her voice would be used commercially. She claims the recording was made at the request of Bad Bunny's longtime producer, La Paciencia, whose real name is Roberto Rosado, in 2018.

The lawsuit accuses Bad Bunny and his label, Rimas Entertainment, of violating her privacy and publicity rights. A court hearing is expected in May.

Cheers, Jeers, and a Nation Watching Closely

Public reaction to the announcement that Bad Bunny will headline the Super Bowl halftime show has been sharply divided online. Some users offered blunt disapproval. "Bad Bunny is a bad idea," one commenter wrote. Others leaned into humor or spectacle. "Super Bowl halftime show just got a whole lot spicier," another posted.

The possibility of immigration enforcement at the event also fueled anxiety and speculation, with some drawing direct connections between the performer and security plans. "ICE at the Super Bowl?" one person asked.

Together, the reactions capture the combustible mix of fame, politics, culture, and controversy surrounding Bad Bunny's selection — and underscore why his Super Bowl moment may be remembered for far more than music alone.