Bad Bunny’s 2026 Super Bowl halftime performance — held at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara during Super Bowl LX — quickly became one of the most talked-about halftime shows in recent memory. The artist delivered a Spanish-language set celebrating Latin culture, Puerto Rican identity, and unity, complete with high-energy visuals, surprise celebrity guests, and symbolic imagery.
Positive Reception and Cultural Celebration
Many fans, celebrities, and commentators praised the performance:
- Mainstream media and stars described it as vibrant, emotional, and culturally impactful — with messages of “love over hate” and unity highlighted during the show.
- Major names in entertainment celebrated the show on social platforms, calling it “incredible” and emotionally moving, and interpreting it as a meaningful moment for Latinx representation in mainstream American culture.
- Social media was flooded with positive reactions from viewers at watch parties and on livestreams — some describing it as one of the most entertaining halftime shows in years, with fans wishing it had been longer.
- Many online posts highlighted how the performance elicited joy and celebration, especially among Latino audiences, with some describing the live dance and crowd reaction as electric and enthusiastic.
For these supporters, the show wasn’t “just a performance” — it was a cultural moment that amplified diverse voices on one of the world’s biggest entertainment stages.
Mixed and Negative Opinions
However, reactions were not uniformly positive:
Language and Familiarity
- A common critique came from viewers who said they didn’t understand the Spanish lyrics and felt disconnected from the music because of language barriers — even if the visual spectacle was appreciated.
- Some people simply weren’t familiar with Bad Bunny’s music or genre and said that affected their experience of the show.
Political and Cultural Backlash
- Former President Donald Trump publicly criticized the performance on social media, calling it “absolutely terrible” and saying the Spanish-language format was an “affront to America,” sparking wider political debate about cultural representation.
- Other critics echoed this sentiment, arguing that having a predominantly Spanish performance on the U.S.’s biggest broadcast event was out of step with what they expected from a “traditional” Super Bowl show.
Divide Among Sports Figures
- A subset of sports figures reportedly did not favor Bad Bunny’s selection, with some anonymous NFL players surveyed expressing that they weren’t fond of the choice and didn’t resonate with the music.
Social Media and Online Commentary
On platforms like Reddit, reactions were just as mixed and illustrative of the broader cultural conversation:
Proponents and Fun Responses
- Some users celebrated the show’s energy and authenticity, sharing how dancers and performers kept the party going even after the main event.
- Others celebrated the emotional impact, with people saying watching the show was more memorable than the game itself — and even posting about cheering louder for the performance than the football action.
Neutral or Mixed Views
- Many posts shared honest reactions: some viewers enjoyed the vibe and the visual storytelling even if they didn’t speak Spanish.
- Others simply didn’t care for the music or found the style unremarkable — but argued people could discuss it without turning it into a cultural battle.
Critics
- Some users who didn’t enjoy the show said it wasn’t about politics but personal taste — for example, disliking the musical genre or the vocal style.
- There were also posts mocking critics who reacted strongly, with some calling such outrage over a halftime show “drama” or exaggeration.
What This Means in Context
Unlike some halftime shows that center mainly on established English-language pop acts, Bad Bunny’s performance leaned into Latin rhythms, Spanish lyrics, and cultural imagery. For many viewers, this broadened the Super Bowl’s entertainment narrative and celebrated diversity on a stage viewed by over 130 million people worldwide.
The show also emphasized artistic expression over mainstream familiarity — something that made it anointing moment for supporters but a point of friction for those who prefer traditional or English-centered performances. The intense reactions serve as a reminder that the halftime show isn’t just a musical interlude — it’s a cultural signal reflecting broader conversations about representation, identity, and what “mainstream American culture” looks like on a global platform.
Summary of Overall Consensus
Positive: Many fans and celebrities praised the performance as powerful, inclusive, and memorable — celebrating cultural visibility and unity.
Mixed: Some viewers enjoyed the show visually, even if they didn’t understand the language or weren’t familiar with the music genre.
Negative: Critics — including some political figures and a portion of sports fans — felt the performance didn’t resonate with their expectations, sometimes framing their critique in cultural terms.
References & Further Reading
- Reuters — Trump says Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl halftime was “absolutely terrible”
https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trump-says-bad-bunnys-super-bowl-halftime-show-was-absolutely-terrible-2026-02-09/ - The Guardian — Stars react positively to Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl show
https://www.theguardian.com/music/2026/feb/09/reactions-bad-bunny-super-bowl-halftime-show - Men’s Journal — Social media love/hate for the halftime show
https://www.mensjournal.com/news/news-bad-bunny-super-bowl-halftime-show-social-reactions-love-hate - Forbes — Celebrities and media react to Bad Bunny’s halftime show
https://www.forbes.com/sites/laurasirikul/2026/02/09/celebrities-and-media-react-to-bad-bunnys-super-bowl-halftime-show/ - NBC Bay Area — Halftime show draws mixed reactions
https://www.nbcbayarea.com/super-bowl/bad-bunny-halftime-show-super-bowl/4030647/ - Reddit commentary on fan reactions and views
https://www.reddit.com/r/sports/comments/1r051yz/bad_bunnys_dancers_and_musicians_kept_the_party/
