In the 60th Super Bowl, held recently, the halftime show featured Puerto Rican rapper Bad Bunny, whose performance was conducted entirely in Spanish without subtitles provided by the network. The choice sparked discussion among viewers, as Bad Bunny recited the names of Central and South American countries after uttering "God bless America" in English, highlighting regional identities within the Americas.
Bad Bunny, known for his unique stage persona including occasional drag performances, hails from Puerto Rico, a U.S. territory but not a state, which limits its residents' voting rights in presidential elections. Commentators noted the performer's name as an unconventional fit for the rap genre, contrasting with more aggressive monikers like Snoop Doggy Dogg or Lil' Kim.
The Super Bowl halftime show has evolved significantly since its early days without performances, such as in the inaugural game 60 years ago, which the author Donald Jeffries recalls watching as a child with predominantly White players on the field. Modern shows began featuring major acts starting with Michael Jackson in 1993, followed by notable incidents like Janet Jackson's wardrobe malfunction during the 2004 performance.
Since 2020, the NFL has enlisted Jay-Z to produce the halftime shows, leading to selections perceived as less diverse in terms of racial representation. The 2025 show by Kendrick Lamar was described as featuring no White backup dancers, resembling a historically Black college football matchup like Grambling versus Alcorn State.
This year's Super Bowl game itself was marked by both starting quarterbacks being White—a rarity in an era where at least 80 percent of players are Black, according to observers—resulting in a contest lacking big plays or standout stars. The halftime spectacle, however, overshadowed the field action, continuing a trend where the show often garners more attention than the game.
Columnist Jason Whitlock commented on the cultural dynamics, stating that "Black people have been conditioned to like whatever makes White people upset. And especially what Donald Trump doesn’t like." Jeffries, writing for SGT Report in his piece "I Protest," critiqued the performance as particularly offensive, questioning the celebration of Puerto Rican culture amid ongoing issues like power restoration in the territory.
The event underscores ongoing debates about representation in American sports and entertainment, from player demographics to halftime entertainment choices, reflecting broader cultural shifts over six decades of Super Bowl history.
