Bad Bunny, the Puerto Rican singer and global cultural icon, has been in the news lately. Plus, he just announced that he’ll be headlining the Super Bowl half-time show! This announcement came on the heels of a wildly successful, three-month concert series in San Juan, Puerto Rico that drew nearly 600,000 guests. But the announcement has set off a firestorm of criticism and conservative knicker-twisting, most notably from one Kristi Noem, homeland security secretary.
Noem even punched further above her weight class in threatening to send federal immigration enforcement agents to the Super Bowl over Bad Bunny. The very presence of this threat has launched a robust conversation about the state of cultural representation and immigration policy inside of our country. Bad Bunny did all of this with an audacious confidence, which was evident when he hosted and performed on Saturday Night Live. In this highly watched performance, he promoted his upcoming Super Bowl show and passionately defended members of the Latino community.
During his opening monologue on SNL, Bad Bunny reached out to “all the Latinos and Latinas in the entire world and here in the United States.” He emphasized the importance of representation and cultural contributions, stating, “More than being an accomplishment of mine, it’s an accomplishment for everybody, demonstrating that our mark and our contribution to this country will never be able to be removed or erased by anybody.”
The backlash against Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl performance has proven to be equally quick and loud. Many conservative commentators expressed their discontent, while some Fox News contributors even jokingly suggested he should run for president. Bad Bunny, on the other hand, never lost his sense of humor about the whole thing.
“If you didn’t understand what I just said, you have four months to learn.” – Bad Bunny
It was a telling comment that demonstrated his faith in the power of communication that crossed language barriers. His concert series in Puerto Rico—his ascendant popularity on the mainland—amplified his rising cultural influence. Now, he gets his message to huge audiences like the Super Bowl.
Bad Bunny wasn’t shy about taking aim at the more violent enforcement of immigration under the Trump administration. Nothing has stopped him thus far, not even alarming threats from federal officials. He has even made the decision to exclude the United States from his forthcoming world tour due to fears of ICE raids at concerts. This decision reflects his dedication to social issues that impact the Latino community.
His recent appearance on SNL alongside Pedro Pascal was Bad Bunny’s second time hosting and fourth appearance on the show. Through sharp humor he had the audience convulsing with laughter, he made everyone consider huge issues. That eclectic combination of humor and advocacy, introduced and hosted by Bill, was something a lot of people connected with.
“My residence was beautiful, everyone loved it.” – Bad Bunny
The 38-year-old performer’s knack for mixing entertainment and social critique has only further raised his standing as an important cultural touchstone. After all, he might just be practicing for that Super Bowl half-time show we all know he’s really hoping for. To most people in the Latino community, he stands for their pride and a strong voice that fights a mainstream narrative.