NFL commissioner Roger Goodell he pondered if Bad Bunny could be political during the Super Bowl LX Halftime Show on Sunday February 8.
Bunny — real name Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio — he spoke against the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) during one of his acceptance speeches at the Grammy 2026 on Sunday February 1.
During a press conference On Monday, Feb. 2, ahead of this Sunday’s Super Bowl LX, Goodell, 66, was asked by a reporter if he expected similar political statements during the big game.
“Bad Bunny, I think that was proven last night, he’s one of the greatest artists in the world, and that’s one of the reasons we chose him,” the NFL commissioner said, referring to the Puerto Rican star who won the night’s top award. Album of the yearfor his LP I should have taken more pictures.
Seemingly ever since the NFL announced that Bad Bunny would headline the Super Bowl LX Halftime Show, the biggest news has come about the league’s selection. Critics have said viewers won’t be able to connect with someone who performs primarily in Spanish, while her fans have pointed to the three-time Grammy (…)
“But the other reason is he understood the platform he was on,” Goodell continued. “This platform is about bringing people together and being able to bring people together with their creativity, with their talent, and being able to use that moment to do that. I think artists in the past have done that. I think Bad Bunny understands that and I think he’s going to have a great performance.”
Bunny, 31, was one of the stars to speak out about ICE at Sunday’s Grammys while accepting the award for Best Urban Music Album.
“We’re not savages, we’re not animals, we’re not aliens. We’re human and we’re Americans,” the rapper said.
“I want to tell people, I know it’s hard not to hate these days, and I was thinking that we’re contaminated — I don’t know how to say it in English,” he continued, using the Spanish word for “contaminated.”
Bad Bunny added: “Hate gets stronger with more hate. The only thing more powerful than hate is love. So please, we have to be different. If we fight, we have to do it with love. We don’t hate them. We love our people, we love our family and that’s the way to do it. With love. Please don’t forget.”
The NFL announced Bad Bunny as the headliner for the Super Bowl LX halftime show in September 2025. The decision was criticized by some on the conservative right because Bunny performs mostly in Spanish.
In October 2025, Goodell said the NFL I wouldn’t consider changing your choice of headliner.
“He’s one of the leading and most popular artists in the world,” Goodell told reporters at the time. “That’s what we’re trying to achieve. It’s an important stage for us. It’s an important element to the entertainment value, and it’s carefully thought out.”
A poll released by The Athletic on Monday found that nearly half of NFL players polled disapproved of Bunny’s heading Sunday halftime show. More than 41% of respondents said they were not in favor of Bad Bunny’s performance, while 58.6% approved of the selection.
“I don’t even know who Bad Bunny is. I always think he should be an American. I think they’re trying too hard with this international stuff,” an unnamed NFC player told the network. (Puerto Rico is an unincorporated territory of the United States and Bad Bunny is a US citizen.)