Getty Images
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MAY 12: (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Born on March 10, 1994, Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio is a Latin American trap artist who has earned a spot as this year’s Super Bowl Halftime performer. Benito started making music in 2013 on SoundCloud and had his first breakthrough song in 2016. “Diles” is a solo track passionately detailing a relationship Bad Bunny once had. This positive love song gained lots of attention and even earned him a signing to a record label, Hear This Music. He would later earn his stage name, Bad Bunny, when a childhood photo resurfaced of him angrily dressed in a bunny costume.
Since his teenage SoundCloud days, Bad Bunny has grown into an incredible Latin-American artist. He’s won and been nominated for dozens of credible awards, including winning 3/10 Grammy nominations. Bad Bunny has also earned 12 Latin Grammys and was nominated for Album of the Year at the 65th Annual Grammy Awards for his Spanish-language album Un Verano Sin Ti. This was the first Spanish-language album ever to be considered for that category. Through all the fame and record breaking, Bad Bunny has stayed spiritual and true to his fanbase. Fans often describe Bad Bunny as comedic and charismatic, a man whose personality has never wavered through it all.
Despite already having performed in the Super Bowl Halftime show, alongside Latin artists Jennifer Lopez, Shakira, and J Balvin, Bad Bunny is experiencing harsh backlash for being chosen as a headliner this year. Bad Bunny was only a guest of that 2020 halftime show, but the ratings were above average as Fox recorded approximately 103 million viewers. Lots of Bad Bunny’s controversy has sprouted from the fact that he has refused to tour his own music in any states of the U.S. in fear ICE agents may target and racially profile his fans. Much of the media has slammed him for this view, expressing that Bad Bunny only performs shows that are convenient for him such as the Super Bowl. However, Bad Bunny isn’t paid directly by the NFL at all. Others criticize him for the simple fact that his first language isn’t English. Bad Bunny has made light of this situation by adding comedic relief and addressing the topic on his most recent SNL appearance. “Especialmente todos los latinos y latinas en todo el mundo, y aquí, en los Estados Unidos, todos aquellos que han trabajado para abrir puertas. Es más que un logro para mí, es un logro para todos nosotros. Muestra nuestra huella y nuestra contribución a este país, que nadie podrá quitar o borrar jamás” he exclaims. If an individual is unable to understand what he said, “…you have four months to learn” he added.
On TikTok, the Dallas Cowboys were posted “vibing to Bad Bunny”. The social media video contained a few Dallas Cowboys players answering questions about Bad Bunny, and even dancing to the music while listening through headphones. This NFL team’s owner however, has voiced his outrage. Jerry Jones, the Dallas Cowboys owner, has officially petitioned the NFL to replace Bad Bunny for the 2026 Super Bowl Halftime show. Jones has even threatened to strike if the league refuses to reverse its decision. The Dallas NFL team is currently sitting at a record of 2-2-1 and per FOX sports, a less than 1% chance of qualifying for the 2026 Super Bowl. The Dallas Cowboys playing in this year’s February 9th Super Bowl would end the 29 year drought, as Jerry Jones and the Cowboys have not played in a Super Bowl game since 1996.