Chalien Dantes/Contributor

With Bad Bunny set to headline the upcoming Super Bowl halftime show, he’s urging fans to brush up on their Spanish before the big day.

While many, especially within Black online spaces, are hyped to see the Puerto Rican superstar take centre stage, the announcement has also sparked heated discussions about identity, language, and who gets the spotlight at America’s biggest entertainment event.

Some political figures, including President Donald Trump and House Speaker Mike Johnson, have criticised the NFL’s choice, claiming they’ve never heard of him and pushing for a more traditionally American act.

That’s despite Bad Bunny’s global success: three Grammy wins, record-breaking concerts, and a massive cultural footprint. His outspoken views against the current administration have led critics to label him as unpatriotic, even though he is a US citizen.

The situation reflects deeper tensions in American culture about who belongs, who gets celebrated, and how race, politics, and language shape those conversations. Yet for millions, Bad Bunny represents more than just stardom; it’s his visibility, power, and pride in heritage that they care about.