By COOPER RATHMANN

During halftime of the Packers and Cowboys game on Sunday, Sept. 28, NBC revealed Bad Bunny will be the performer for the Super Bowl LX Halftime Show. This year’s Super Bowl will take place at Levi’s Field in Santa Clara, California.

NBC’s reveal added even more repertoire to Bad Bunny’s year. His rise of global influence was catalyzed by the release of “DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS” on Jan. 5 this year. His sixth studio album reached the top of the charts and still remains popular in the music cycle. In addition to the high acclaim, Bad Bunny just wrapped up a passionate concert residency called “No Me Quiero Ir De Aquí.” The performances brought significant economic fortune to Puerto Rico, racking up around $733 million, according to data from Gaither International.

The grand spectacle of the setting will be nothing new for him since he was a special guest performer for Super Bowl LIV when Shakira and Jennifer Lopez headlined. However, even if his global influence has been on the rise this year, there have been mixed opinions regarding the NFL’s decision to let him take front and center on one of the biggest musical stages in the world.

The current opposition stems from the cultural emphasis of Bad Bunny’s fusion of music and politics. It is apparent that some conservatives are upset that the NFL chose an artist whose primary language is Spanish. NASCAR driver Danica Patrick disapproved of the selection, saying on an X post that non-English songs are not good for the sports world, especially at one of “America’s highest rated television events of the year.” However, it is important to note that Bad Bunny is able to conduct interviews and act in English, whether that be when he appears on the late night tv shows or hosts SNL.

Others have come forward with a radical condemnation of Bad Bunny, manipulating the messages in his music against him and his Latino fan base. Corey Lewandowski, a political operative for the Trump administration, stated on a podcast appearance that ICE agents will be present at the Super Bowl Halftime Show in light of the NFL’s decision. “There is nowhere you can provide safe haven to people who are in this country illegally,” Lewandowski said, calling for extra enforcement and a blatant implication that the majority of his fans are in the country under illegal precedents.

On the other hand, millions of fans and fellow musicians across the globe are stoked for the upcoming performance in February regardless of language and cultural differences. 

Luciano Marchetti’26, an Argentinian exchange student, said that he believes that letting Bad Bunny perform could be a “win-win” for both sports and music fans, including those who may not be invested in the athletic aspect of the Super Bowl. Marchetti also said there was a “clear intention” of choosing Bad Bunny, and in terms of audience outreach on a global scale, “he would be the correct choice.” The idea of appeal and intention is critical for the Super Bowl Halftime Show, especially now since the NFL is seeking to expand its popularity in Latin American countries, evident through hosting games in cities like São Paulo and Mexico City.

Bad Bunny has long been using his musical influence to promote Puerto Rico and its vivid culture. Since he acts very independently in comparison to other mainstream artists, he is expected to transform the Super Bowl Halftime Show into something never seen before, even if it receives large amounts of backlash. 

Environmental Studies and International Relations Professor Pablo Toral said events like the Super Bowl Halftime Show are meant to be seen as an innovation of sports that merges cultural and musical elements of our society for fans to enjoy and that performance itself should be “memorable for the right reasons.”

At the end of the day, no one can ignore the magnitude of the upcoming performance. On stage, Bad Bunny has the capability to grab the attention of millions of viewers and invoke a profound recognition or embrace of Puerto Rican and Latin American culture.

_{Featured image: The Line of Best Fit}