Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is among a group of conservatives voicing criticism over the NFL’s decision to feature Puerto Rican singer Bad Bunny for the Super Bowl LX Halftime Show.
The announcement was made on September 28 during halftime of NBC’s Sunday Night Football, as the league, in partnership with Roc Nation and Apple Music, revealed that Bad Bunny was chosen to lead the halftime performance at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, on February 8, 2026.
This will be Bad Bunny’s first time headlining the Super Bowl halftime show. He previously made a cameo appearance in 2020 during Jennifer Lopez and Shakira’s performance at Super Bowl LIV.
Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, famously known as Bad Bunny, shared an emotional written statement released by the NFL.
“What I’m feeling goes beyond myself,” he said. “It’s for those who came before me and ran countless yards so I could come in and score a touchdown… this is for my people, my culture, and our history. Ve y dile a tu abuela, que seremos el HALFTIME SHOW DEL SUPER BOWL (Go and tell your grandmother that we’ll be the Super Bowl Halftime Show).”
However, the decision has drawn criticism from several conservatives. Attorney General Paxton shared a post on X calling for a more “patriotic” alternative, reposting a message from conservative commentator Robby Starbuck, who urged followers to contact NFL commissioners to oppose the decision.
Conservative influencer Benny Johnson also weighed in, writing, “The NFL is self-destructing year after year,” while criticizing Bad Bunny’s political views and the fact that much of his music is in Spanish. Yet Puerto Rico is part of the United States—making accusations that his selection is “unpatriotic” especially striking coming from elected officials.Bad Bunny is one of the most-streamed artists globally and has consistently ranked as a top performer on Spotify in the U.S., including in Houston. He recently completed a 30-night sold-out residency in Puerto Rico, following the success of his 2022 World’s Hottest Tour, which filled stadiums across the U.S. and Latin America. However, his 2025 world tour did not include U.S. dates due to concerns that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) might conduct raids at his concerts, potentially deterring fans from attending. This apprehension led him to focus his performances outside the United States, underscoring the challenges immigrants currently face in the country.
