Bad Bunny’s Grammy‑Fueled Super Bowl Halftime Preview Highlights Multilingual Sign‑Language and Political Backlash
Updated (6 articles)
Historic Spanish‑Language Headliner Confirmed for Feb 8, 2026 Bad Bunny will headline the Super Bowl halftime show at Levi’s Stadium, marking the NFL’s first Spanish‑language main act and coming just a week after his Album of the Year win for Debí Tirar Más Fotos [2][3][4]. The announcement follows his surprise reveal on Saturday Night Live and a press conference that drew an unusually large Spanish‑language media presence [1]. He promises a “huge party” that celebrates Latino culture without revealing specific set pieces [1].
Grammy Triumph and Anti‑ICE Message Amplify Political Controversy At the 2026 Grammys the Puerto Rican star opened his acceptance speech with “ICE out,” urging viewers to view immigrants as “humans and Americans” [5][6]. The remark sparked applause from fellow winners and intensified criticism from former President Donald Trump, who called the halftime choice “terrible” and announced he would skip the game [2][4]. Conservative groups such as Turning Point USA organized an alternative “All‑American” halftime show featuring Kid Rock and others [2][4].
NFL Projects Record Viewership Leveraging Bad Bunny’s Global Pull League analysts forecast a record 150 million global viewers for the halftime show, citing Bad Bunny’s four‑time Spotify global‑top‑streamed status and multiple Billboard 200 #1 albums [3]. Roc Nation’s Desiree Perez emphasized his “stellar career” and six Grammy wins as justification for the marquee slot [3]. The NFL also highlights the 39 million U.S. Latino fans—on average ten years younger than the median viewer—as a key growth demographic [3].
Multilingual Signing Initiative and Pregame Performances Add Cultural Layers The halftime production will integrate Puerto Rican Sign Language through a partnership with LOVE SIGN, Deaf Equality, and interpreter Celimar Rivera Cosme, marking the first such inclusion in Super Bowl history [1]. Pregame acts include Charlie Puth (national anthem), Brandi Carlile (“America the Beautiful”), Coco Jones (“Lift Every Voice and Sing”), and deaf artist Fred Beam providing ASL interpretation [1]. These elements underscore the show’s emphasis on “fun, connection, and personal expression” rather than award chasing [1].
Public Opinion Remains Divided as Polls Show Near‑Even Favorability A YouGov poll of 1,672 adults (Jan 30‑Feb 2) found 35 % view Bad Bunny favorably, 32 % unfavorably, and 33 % undecided, while 28 % expressed satisfaction with his Super Bowl appearance [4]. Separate Harvard CAPS/Harris and TIPP polls recorded roughly half‑plus unfavorable views of Trump, indicating broader political polarization surrounding the event [4]. The mixed sentiment reflects both cultural pride among Puerto Rican communities and heightened partisan backlash [2][4].
Sources
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1.
AP: Bad Bunny Previews Super Bowl Halftime Show After Grammy Triumph: Details his mixed‑emotion press conference, Grammy win, promise of a “huge party,” and the multilingual signing program with Celimar Rivera Cosme .
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CNN: Bad Bunny to Make Super Bowl Halftime History as First Spanish‑Language Headliner: Highlights his historic Spanish‑language headlining, Puerto Rican community pride, Trump’s condemnation, and right‑wing alternative halftime plans .
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Newsweek (Feb 4): Bad Bunny’s 2026 Super Bowl Halftime Show Sparks Political Backlash and Business Optimism: Covers his SNL announcement, conservative criticism, Roc Nation’s defense, Grammy speech activism, and NFL’s 150 million viewer projection .
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Newsweek (Feb 3): Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl Halftime Show Sparks Split Public Opinion and Political Pushback: Reports poll results, Trump’s remarks, Turning Point USA’s alternative show, and Bad Bunny’s anti‑ICE comments .
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WBNS: Bad Bunny’s Grammy win fuels anti‑ICE message ahead of Super Bowl show: Focuses on his Grammy victories, ICE‑out speech, upcoming halftime date, and broader pro‑immigration statements from other winners .
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6.
King5: Bad Bunny’s Grammy Win Fuels Anti‑ICE Message Ahead of Super Bowl Show: Mirrors WBNS coverage, emphasizing Grammy wins, ICE‑out remark, halftime schedule, and his record‑breaking Puerto Rico residency .
Timeline
2023 – Bad Bunny tells Vanity Fair that he will “never” sing in English “just because someone says I need to do it to reach a certain audience,” cementing his Spanish‑only policy and cultural stance [1].
Jan 16, 2026 – Bad Bunny drops an Instagram trailer for his Super Bowl halftime show, racking up over 5.8 million likes and nearly 80 million views, underscoring his massive digital pull ahead of the event [2].
Jan 27‑29, 2026 – A Turn‑Point poll (TIPP) records 41 % favorability and 50 % unfavorability for President Trump; a Harvard CAPS/Harris poll (Jan 28‑29) shows 50 % unfavorable versus 42 % favorable, highlighting declining support for Trump during the Super Bowl buildup [3].
Jan 30‑Feb 2, 2026 – A YouGov survey of 1,672 adults finds 35 % view Bad Bunny favorably, 32 % unfavorably and 33 % undecided; 28 % say they are satisfied with his upcoming Super Bowl appearance, revealing a narrowly split public opinion [3].
Feb 2, 2026 – Bad Bunny wins Album of the Year and Best Música Urbana Album at the 2026 Grammy Awards, becoming the first Spanish‑language artist to claim the top prize, and opens his acceptance speech with “ICE out,” urging viewers to see immigrants as “humans and we are Americans” [5][6].
Feb 3, 2026 – The NFL announces Bad Bunny as the 2026 Super Bowl halftime headliner, marking the first Spanish‑language act to headline the marquee show and sparking both cultural celebration and political criticism [3].
Feb 3, 2026 – During a Saturday Night Live appearance, Bad Bunny reveals his halftime role with the line “If you didn’t understand what I just said, you have four months to learn,” resonating as a cultural win for U.S. Latinos [2].
Feb 3‑4, 2026 – Former President Donald Trump condemns the halftime selection as “terrible,” says it “sows hatred,” declares he will skip the game, and labels the lineup “absolutely ridiculous,” intensifying conservative backlash [1][2].
Feb 4, 2026 – Turning Point USA schedules an “All‑American Halftime Show” featuring Kid Rock, Brantley Gilbert, Lee Brice and Gabby Barrett as an alternative to Bad Bunny’s performance, while House Speaker Mike Johnson calls the pick “a terrible decision” [1].
Feb 4, 2026 – Roc Nation CEO Desiree Perez defends Bad Bunny’s selection, citing his four‑time Spotify global‑top‑streamed status, multiple Billboard 200 #1 albums and six Grammy wins as proof he is “the best of the best” for the world’s biggest stage [2].
Feb 4, 2026 – The NFL projects a record 150 million global viewers for the 2026 halftime show and highlights the 39 million U.S. Latino fans—on average ten years younger than the median viewer—as a key demographic for future growth [2].
Feb 5, 2026 – At an Apple Music press conference, Bad Bunny expresses mixed emotions, promises a “huge party” that showcases his culture, and announces pre‑game performances by Charlie Puth, Brandi Carlile and Coco Jones, plus a historic multilingual signing program featuring Puerto Rican Sign Language [4].
Feb 8, 2026 – Bad Bunny headlines the Super Bowl halftime show at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, delivering the first Spanish‑language halftime performance and featuring the multilingual signing initiative led by Celimar Rivera Cosme, marking a milestone for cultural representation on the NFL’s marquee stage [1][4].
Late 2026 – Bad Bunny leads the Latin Grammy nominations with 12 nods, positioning him as the top contender for the awards later in the year, following his historic Grammy Album of the Year win earlier in February [5][6].