Kamal Ghorui
The Bad Bunny Super Bowl halftime show has become one of the most debated entertainment decisions in recent NFL history, and it will finally unfold on Sunday in Santa Clara. The league’s choice to hand the Super Bowl LX stage to the Puerto Rican superstar has stirred excitement, anger, and political noise in equal measure, weeks before a single note is played.Bad Bunny, born Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, will perform as the Seattle Seahawks face the New England Patriots, carrying the weight of cultural expectation along with the spotlight. Much of the backlash centers on language and politics, but close friend and global hitmaker J Balvin believes the controversy misses the point of music itself.
J Balvin fires back at critics questioning Bad Bunny’s all-Spanish Super Bowl show
J Balvin has been clear about why English-speaking audiences do not need translation to feel Bad Bunny’s performance. Speaking to TMZ, the Colombian singer framed the issue through his own experience as a young listener discovering hip-hop.“I learned and grew up listening to hip-hop,” Balvin said. “I didn’t know what they were saying. I would just vibe with it.”For Balvin, rhythm and emotion come before lyrics. “They just gotta jump on the flavor, that’s all they gotta do,” he added. “That’s followers.” His comments underline a broader idea the NFL appears to be embracing: the Super Bowl is no longer just an American event but a global one, shaped by sounds and cultures that travel beyond borders.The resistance, however, has been loud. President Donald Trump has been among the most vocal critics, while Hall of Fame running back Eric Dickerson questioned the NFL’s decision to look outside the local music scene. “Why can’t we get somebody from right here, from home?” Dickerson asked. “I don’t see why they chose that.” He also raised doubts about how a Spanish-language performance would land with a national audience.On being asked his favorite Bad Bunny song, Balvin said,”“All of them!” he said. That’s my man.”Bad Bunny has not softened his stance amid the criticism. He recently renewed his condemnation of ICE during his Grammy speech, continuing a pattern of speaking openly about issues that matter to him. The pressure has been intense. Days before the show, he admitted the buildup has been exhausting. “Thinking about the Super Bowl at 4am, that’s what I’ve been doing,” he said. “Last night I couldn’t sleep, I was thinking about it.”Still, his focus remains on the moment itself. “I want to think it’s 13 minutes of doing what I love,” Bad Bunny said. “I know I’m gonna have fun.”
