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First modification: 02/10/2026 - 15:28 Last modification: 02/10/2026 - 15:28
Bad Bunny broke several milestones at the Super Bowl, becoming the first artist to sing entirely in Spanish during the halftime show. With 135.4 million viewers, his presentation was crowned the most watched in the history of the event, even surpassing that of Kendrick Lamar. However, why was there so much political division over the halftime show? Was it a tribute to Latinos or a challenge to Americans? We analyzed it in El Debate on France 24.
Bad Bunny's show became a symbol of the growing influence of the Latin community in American culture, however, for some, especially within the Republican Party, his participation in the Super Bowl was a provocation.
The Republican organization Turning Point USA organized a side event featuring country and rock music artists, arguing that their performance represented an attempt to honor traditional American values.
Additionally, President Donald Trump called Bad Bunny's show an "affront to the United States."
Read alsoSpanish, Latin pride and a united America: Bad Bunny's show at the Super Bowl unleashes Trump's wrath
In El Debate de France 24, we ask ourselves: was it a tribute to the Latino community and a voice on the current political and social situation or was it a cultural challenge that sharpens divisions within the country?
For political analyst Federico de Jesús, Bad Bunny's performance is “a political statement” because by positioning himself in a space of diversity, he confronts the United States and its colonial relationship with Puerto Rico.
In particular, he refers to the song “What Happened to Hawaii” from his latest album, alluding to the annexation of Hawaii to the United States and the impact it had on its culture and language.
"This is also happening today in Puerto Rico due to tax incentives. Many Americans are moving to Puerto Rico, which is causing colonial displacement," explains analyst Federico de Jesús.
For Federico, there is a palpable fear that the island will become the 51st state of the United States. “This is a necessary debate that encompasses both the fight against ICE and the resistance to colonialism,” he concludes.
In contrast, Barbara Casanova, president of the National Hispanic Republican Assembly, believes that the Super Bowl is not the appropriate platform to discuss political issues.
For Casanova, audience statistics do not reflect a deep understanding of the message and he warns that “it is lost.” In his opinion, using the Super Bowl to talk about colonialism can generate a negative reaction and dilute the impact of the political message.
During The Debate, guests also discussed the economic impact of the entertainment industry, the alternative concert organized by Turning Point USA, the cultural elements of the show, the reproduction of Latin American “clichés” and the political role that artists can play in the face of crucial milestones that the world is experiencing.
Lovers or not of Bad Bunny's music, the Puerto Rican's performance at the Super Bowl opens a conversation about the cultural identity and politics of the United States, reflecting the deep social and political tensions fueled yesterday and today from the White House.
They join us from Washington and Miami:
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