Bad Bunny took center stage for the Super Bowl 60 halftime show while the Patriots and Seahawks regrouped in their locker rooms, delivering a visually ambitious performance that quickly sparked debate. Despite star appearances from Lady Gaga and Ricky Martin, not all reactions were positive, including a subtle online jab from rapper Chris Brown.
Chris Brown Reacts to Bad Bunny’s Halftime Performance
Bad Bunny made history as the first male Latin artist to headline the Super Bowl halftime show and the first performer to do so in the same year he won the Grammy Award for Album of the Year since 1995.
Performing entirely in Spanish, Bad Bunny, whose real name is Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, delivered a high-energy, visually striking set that electrified Levi’s Stadium. Even viewers unfamiliar with the lyrics could still connect with the infectious rhythms and emotional weight of the performance.
Not everyone was impressed, however. Brown appeared to take a subtle jab at the show, posting a message to his Instagram Stories that read, “I think it’s safe to say… they need me,” followed by a winking-face emoji.
Brown wasn’t the only one to criticize Bad Bunny’s performance, which featured songs like “Monaco,” “Yo Perreo Sola,” and “Tití Me Preguntó,” while several celebrities, including Cardi B and Pedro Pascal, danced around him. Much of the backlash, however, appeared to be politically driven, including criticism from President Donald Trump.
Born in Bayamón, Puerto Rico, Bad Bunny has previously criticized Trump’s immigration policies, making him a frequent target of backlash. However, the halftime show leaned heavily into unity and inclusion.
The Grammy winner even exclaimed “God bless America” during the performance and showcased a football emblazoned with the phrase, “Together, we are America.”
Another point of controversy was the fact that the performance was entirely in Spanish. Yet, coming off a week in which he won three Grammy Awards, Bad Bunny headlining the halftime show represented a major win for the NFL as it continues expanding its global reach.
Remarkably, even his messaging of hope and unification was enough to anger certain groups. Turning Point USA announced a lineup for their own “All-American” halftime show that would air during Bad Bunny’s performance, featuring Kid Rock, Brantley Gilbert, Lee Brice, and Gabby Barrett.
Meanwhile, Brown has never performed at a Super Bowl halftime show, and barring a significant career resurgence, remains unlikely to do so. Early speculation for Super Bowl 61 headliners has instead centered around artists like Miley Cyrus, Cardi B, and Taylor Swift.
