The Bad Bunny Super Bowl backlash fractures conservative media
As backlash over Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl LX halftime show rippled through conservative media, a notable group of right-leaning commentators broke with President Donald Trump to defend the performance—in some cases walking back their own earlier criticism.
Despite Bad Bunny’s message of love and unity, the performance has been placed squarely at the center of the culture war in recent weeks.
After initially calling for viewers to turn off the halftime show and labeling Bad Bunny a “fake American citizen” who “publicly hates America,” influencer and boxer Jake Paul, 29, has now claimed amnesia over his viral rant.
“Guys i love bad bunny idk what happened on my twitter last night ?? wtf,” he posted on Monday morning. He also claimed his initial post was “misinterpreted” online, clarifying that it was Bad Bunny’s values he was calling “fake” not his citizenship.
The overnight switch-up might be less a change of heart and more a reaction to the tide of public opinion turning against him.
Even his brother and fellow influencer publicly disagreed with the take. Logan Paul replied to the post, writing: “I love my brother but I don’t agree with this Puerto Ricans are Americans & I’m happy they were given the opportunity to showcase the talent that comes from the island.”
“A ‘fake American citizen?’” Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez also responded on Monday on X. “Didn’t you MOVE to Puerto Rico to avoid paying your taxes while kids across America go hungry?”
Mike Nellis, former Senior Advisor to Vice President Kamala Harris, also chimed in to say: “Future historians will mark Jake Paul’s meltdown over Bad Bunny as the moment the left officially won the culture war.”
President Donald Trump was another vocal critic of Bad Bunny’s halftime show, taking to Truth Social to call it “absolutely terrible, one of the worst, EVER,” in a social media post on Sunday. But by Monday, a number of conservative commentators and Trump ally’s had hit back at the President.
Anti-woke broadcaster Piers Morgan, who has previously been friendly towards the president, responded on Monday: “Couldn’t disagree more, Mr President. I absolutely loved Bad Bunny’s halftime show… Oh, and Spanish is 1st language for 50m+ Americans!”
“I’m sorry but I just genuinely question your taste level if you didn’t enjoy the Bad Bunny halftime show,” Republican Meghan McCain also posted on X. “And everything in life doesn’t have to be ruined with politics.”
Bad Bunny spotlighted Puerto Rican culture in a 13-minute spectacle at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, reaching an estimated 135.4 million viewers. Over on YouTube, Turning Point USA streamed its own alternative concert featuring Kid Rock, Brantley Gilbert, and two other country artists, which peaked at about 6.1 million concurrent viewers.