When the NFL formally named Unhealthy Bunny because the headliner for the Tremendous Bowl LX halftime present (February 8, 2026, at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara), it instantly grew to become one of many extra politically charged musical bulletins in latest reminiscence. Unhealthy Bunny emotionally devoted the selection to his tradition and to those that got here earlier than him, stating, “That is for my folks, my tradition and our historical past.” In his thoughts, the forthcoming efficiency is greater than a live performance; it’s a symbolic assertion. Whereas artists typically push again towards political readings of their work, the context of this example suggests that folks will inherently see Unhealthy Bunny’s efficiency as each cultural and political.
Unsurprisingly, conservative commentators have pushed again laborious. A part of the criticism facilities on the truth that the vast majority of Unhealthy Bunny’s catalog is in Spanish (not English), which to some disqualifies him from headlining what they see as a serious “American occasion.” Different critics have attacked his stances on immigration. The 31-year-old has publicly declined to tour the U.S. in recent times over issues about ICE enforcement and he security of his largely Latinx fan base. There are additionally conservatives on the market who view the selection as a “center finger to MAGA,” questioning Unhealthy Bunny’s patriotism and implying he’s anti-American. Former race automotive driver Danica Patrick took to social media together with her ideas, claiming artists at a marquee American occasion ought to “sing solely in English.” On a extra aggressive notice, Trump adviser Corey Lewandowski even floated the likelihood that ICE brokers can be current on the huge sport. Together with his statements, he asserted that no place, not even the Tremendous Bowl, is a protected haven for undocumented folks. All in all, many conservative pundits think about the choice not simply as an leisure selection, however a cultural and political sign they disapprove of.
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Paradoxically, the exact opposite could be stated about Black social media customers. They’ve united in sturdy numbers to assist Unhealthy Bunny, viewing it as a victory for cultural illustration, multilingualism, and defiance towards the established order. Black creators have flooded the web with memes, threads, and movies celebrating the truth that an artist of Latinx id is being granted such a large platform. It’s much more liberating, contemplating that Unhealthy Bunny has at all times been unapologetically expressive about id, resistance, and intersectionality. Numerous folks view his efficiency as an growth of what it means to be American, one that isn’t restricted by race or language. Moreover, Black supporters see parallels between Unhealthy Bunny and Black artists, who use their visibility to problem exclusion. Whereas this selection has despatched conservatives into a whole uproar, Black followers are welcoming the second with jubilation and unity.
The explanations that Black customers discover Unhealthy Bunny’s choice compelling are very layered. First, there’s a longer shared historical past in Black and Latinx communities of utilizing tradition and music to say id, demand area, and defy erasure. This second echoes how Black artists all through historical past have damaged boundaries in genres, in language, and in public visibility. Subsequent, we’ve got to take a look at Unhealthy Bunny’s personal persona. He embraces gender fluidity in vogue, rejects inflexible binaries, and strikes a steadiness between politics and mass attraction. This aligns with fashions of cultural defiance that many Black audiences have lengthy recognized with. Third, the backlash itself helps make clear what’s at stake. The damaging reactions from right-wing factions place Unhealthy Bunny, by default, as somebody whose presence unsettles exclusionary norms. This solely additional amplifies the symbolic worth of the selection to many supporters. Logically, it makes good sense as a rallying level. It’s straightforward for Black folks to get behind a Latinx artist who has elevated himself to certainly one of America’s largest stage as a result of it’s straightforward to narrate to being denied entry to sure areas.
There are a couple of extra elements to think about, as properly. Unhealthy Bunny is definitely a U.S. citizen by advantage of Puerto Rican citizenship, so questions on his immigration standing are wildly deceptive. The Tremendous Bowl’s halftime present is a part of an association with Roc Nation, which has produced prior halftime reveals and has been concerned in programming selections. It comes as no shock that Jay-Z personally referred to as Unhealthy Bunny to share the information. The choice seems like a continuation of what we’ve been seeing in recent times from the NFL—an openness to extra numerous headliners. Since Roc Nation partnered with the NFL in 2019, we’ve seen the likes of Jennifer Lopez, Shakira, Rihanna, Dr. Dre, Usher, Kendrick Lamar, SZA, and extra. The change has been in entrance of us for fairly a while. Whereas music purists should debate how the halftime set shall be staged, for a lot of communities (Latinx, Black, queer, bilingual), this second represents each cultural affirmation and political resistance.
