Following his historic win for Album of the Year at the 2026 Grammys, Puerto Rican superstar Bad Bunny is scheduled to headline the Super Bowl LX halftime show on February 8. The performance on one of the world’s most-watched stages arrives amid heightened public attention on the artist’s frequent criticism of U.S. immigration enforcement, particularly Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
At the Grammys, Bad Bunny used his acceptance speech for the Música Urbana Album category to directly call for “ICE out.” This stance is consistent with his past actions. In 2025, he excluded the United States from his “DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS World Tour, citing concerns that ICE agents might target his Latino and Puerto Rican fans outside concert venues. Instead, he staged a major 31-date residency in Puerto Rico, a move designed to support the local economy and prioritize fans on the island.
His advocacy often intertwines with Puerto Rico’s political status. During the Grammys broadcast, when host Trevor Noah joked about moving to the island, Bad Bunny corrected him by stating, “Puerto Rico is part of America,” highlighting the territory’s complex relationship with the United States. He has also used his music video for “NUEVAYoL,” released on the Fourth of July, to feature imagery critical of former President Donald Trump’s immigration rhetoric, including a scene atop the Statue of liberty and a simulated apology to immigrants.
The NFL’s selection of Bad Bunny drew political backlash. U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem criticized the choice, suggesting ICE would be present at the event and that it should honor “law-abiding Americans.” Trump himself dismissed the performer, stating he would not attend the game and calling the choice “terrible.”
Bad Bunny addressed the controversy during his “Saturday Night Live” monologue, framing his Super Bowl appearance as a victory for Latino contributions to the U.S. “Our footprints and our contribution in this country,” he said in Spanish, “no one will ever be able to take that away or erase it.” He concluded with a direct message to critics in English: “If you didn’t understand what I just said, you have four months to learn.”
While the artist has rarely named Trump explicitly, his opposition to the former administration’s policies, particularly its response to Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico, is well documented. His political expressions, whether through speeches, tour planning, or music videos, have become a defined aspect of his public persona.
The upcoming Super Bowl performance presents a global platform for Bad Bunny. Whether he incorporates explicit political commentary into the show remains unconfirmed. However, his history suggests the event will be an opportunity to center Puerto Rican culture and address issues pertinent to the Latino diaspora on an unprecedented scale. The performance is anticipated not only as a musical milestone but also as a significant cultural moment within ongoing national debates over immigration and identity.
