Here’s why NFL picked Bad Bunny for the Super Bowl

I know Bad Bunny’s repertoire as well as I know Doja Cat’s. Which is to say, not at all. 

Bad Bunny is actually Benito Antonio Martinez Ocasio, which is too many names. He was born in Puerto Rico, which means he is an American citizen. (Doja Cat’s real name is Amala Ratna Zandile Diamini, which also is too many names. Her stage name reflects her love of marijuana and felines. She was born in L.A., which means she may be an American citizen.)

Anyway. . . 

I hear there is some controversy in certain quarters — OK, the right wing — over the NFL choosing Bad Bunny to headline the next Super Bowl half-time show.

No word yet if he will perform in English, as he usually does not. Last year’s headliner, Kendrick Lamar, performed in English, reportedly, but I could barely understand a word. Watching with other (older) friends, we were obligated to turn on closed captioning to figure out the lyrics. It did ‘t help much.

From social media reports, it was not just us.

Bad Bunny, or BB from here on in, is one of the world’s biggest recording stars (for now) who sings in Spanish, he says, to celebrate his culture. He is bigger than the Miami Sound Machine, which recorded mostly in English. (And lead singer Gloria Estefan was featured in the 1992 Super Bowl.)

My reaction to BB’s selection is much like my reaction to last year’s Kendrick Lamar — who? 

The NFL is up to something that I will speculate on later, but clearly the No Fun League has strayed far from its roots — college marching bands, the staple of the first few Super Bowls. A full list of half-time headliners is here. Enjoy the list and the commentary.

In recent years the Super Bowl has morphed from Middle America pop stars such as Carol Channing (twice!), Diana Ross, the Rockettes and Chubby Checker, to what loosely reflects what the players listen to — rap, hip-hop, world beat — whatever is the flavor of the moment.

It is the NFL’s game, and it is the NFL’s right.

I’ve read in some years the TV ratings go up during the show, and down once the game resumes, reflecting that the half-time show attracts a part of the audience that is not all that interested in football.

Take a look at the last few years — 2025: Kendrick Lamar, with guest SZA; 2024: Usher, with guests Alicia Keyes, Jermaine Dupri, H.E.R., will.i.am, Lil Jon, Ludacris; 2023: Rhianna, (no guest help needed); 2022: Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Kendrick Lamar again, Mary K. Blige, Eminem; 2021: The Weeknd; 2020: Shakira, Jennifer Lopez, Bad Bunny, J. Blavin, Emme Muniz (daughter of Jennifer Lopez).

Now, if I wanted to make trouble, I could say this looks like a list generated by DEI — not a single white person other than Eminem and J. Blavin. 

#NoWhitesInSuperBowlShow

But I dislike that game. 

Earlier, I mentioned a possible reason weighing in BB’s favor. The NFL is busy trying to take its brand worldwide, and, here at home, Hispanics are a rising tide. They account for 20% of Americans, almost twice as many as Blacks, and growing fast.

One reason, alas, for the growth is the estimated 14 million illegals in America, a huge percentage of whom are Hispanic.

And that brings us to BB's stated reason for not touring in Mainland America: He says he’s afraid his fans might be arrested and deported by ICE.

Well, certainly not Puerto Ricans, who are citizens by birth, something some right-wing knuckle draggers seemed not to know.

BB seems to have established himself as a Sanctuary Performer, someone who wants to protect illegals from legal deportation. What’s next — protecting fentanyl smugglers?

Anyway, now we have a better explanation than race to explain what animates conservatives — the border-busting illegals, who seem to think they have a right to be here.

They do not.

Global superstar BB is insulting the laws of his country. Not a good look for many.

Here’s a suggestion for 2027, NFL: English-singing and NFL groupie Taylor Swift.

Closing Fun Fact: Half-time stars are paid next to nothing to perform. The NFL pays travel, production costs, and incidentals, but no big pay check. They get exposure and prestige, according to Esquire. 

Cost of the spectacular production can run into the millions, but the show does not enrich the millionaire headliners.