Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl LX headlining spot reflects more than popularity; it represents his unprecedented commercial success, his unapologetic activism, and the long-overdue recognition of Puerto Rico’s place within American culture. 

Bad Bunny, also known as Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, is set to take center stage at the Super Bowl this Sunday, sparking controversy among some MAGA Republicans over the artist’s lack of English-language songs. 

One MAGA influencer took to the social media platform X to argue that Bad Bunny “doesn’t sing in English.” They also criticized him for not touring in the United States due to recent Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids, while still choosing to perform at what they called the “biggest sports event in America” and accused the National Football League of being “desperate to look ‘with it.’”  

That criticism soon extended beyond social media. Following the announcement of Green Day as the Super Bowl LX opener, President Donald Trump announced he would not attend the event.  Trump told the New York Post that, “I’m anti-them. I think it’s a terrible choice. All it does is sow hatred. Terrible.” 

Yet, with an entirely Spanish album titled “Debí Tirar Más Fotos,” Bad Bunny secured 16 Grammy nominations and won three awards, including album of the year. The award, one of the most prestigious honors, is an achievement that takes many English-speaking artists (such as Beyoncé) years to attain. 

Not to mention his 2022 “World’s Hottest Tour” for “Un Verano Sin Ti,” which grossed a record-breaking $314.1 million from 1.9 million tickets sold. A significant portion of that revenue came from U.S. stadium dates, making the tour the largest Latin tour in Billboard Boxscore history. 

Despite not having any English albums, he has made a significant impact in the U.S. If we choose not to rely solely on nominations and tour outcomes as merit for his Super Bowl spot, we can instead look at his activism and dedication to his nation. 

Bad Bunny has not only spoken up against ICE, as the MAGA influencer pointed out, but he has also been a vocal advocate for LGBTQ+ rights, Puerto Rican autonomy and gender equality.  

He has actively fought against homophobia and transphobia by dressing in drag in his 2020 hit song, “Yo Perreo Sola” (I Twerk Alone), while also promoting women’s safety. His most visible stance against transphobia came during a performance on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon,” where he brought attention to the murder of Alexa Nagron Luciano. 

Alexa, also known as Neulisa Luciano Ruiz, a homeless transgender woman in Puerto Rico, was fatally shot in Tao Baja, Puerto Rico, in February 2020. Her death was followed by online harassment and transphobic misgendering by local media outlets, which referred to her as “a man in a skirt.” Bad Bunny paid tribute to her during his performance by wearing a skirt and a T-shirt bearing the message in Spanish: “Mataron a Alexa, no a un hombre con falda.” (They killed Alexa, not a man in a skirt.)

Bad Bunny has long challenged “machismo,” an aggressive sense of masculine pride that is often embedded in Latin American gender roles, through his fluid approach to fashion. His wardrobe frequently reflects his Puerto Rican roots, particularly during his current “Debí Tirar Más Fotos” tour. 

In his 2025 “No me Quiero Ir de Aquí” (I Don’t Want to Leave Here) residency in Puerto Rico, he blended tropical styles with a cosmopolitan aesthetic, featuring bright colors and a dressy-casual approach. These elements echo hallmarks of traditional Puerto Rican fashion and align with the message of his latest album, which serves as a love letter to his homeland. 

Some have grown ignorant of the fact that Puerto Rico remains a U.S. territory and that Puerto Ricans are, in fact, U.S. citizens. This disregard was evident when an American comedian referred to Puerto Rico as a “floating island of garbage” at a Trump campaign event. 

Bad Bunny quickly defended his island in a statement made at the end of his eight-minute-long Instagram video, “We have been fighting since day one of our existence; we are the definition of heart and resistance. Here we go, here we are, and for those who forget who we are, don’t worry, we proudly remind you.”

Even though his music is entirely in Spanish, Bad Bunny has dominated streaming platforms, won three Grammys against English-language albums and has remained unapologetically authentic in his activism.