Barack Obama reacts as Republicans call for investigation into Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl show
Former President Barack Obama has come to the defense of Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl LX halftime show, describing it as a vivid portrayal of community as political criticism continues to build around the performance.
In an interview with YouTuber Brian Tyler Cohen, Obama said the Puerto Rican artist’s decision to perform entirely in Spanish a first in Super Bowl history carried cultural weight without feeling heavy-handed.
“It resonated. It was smart because it wasn’t preaching. It was showing. It was demonstrating and displaying: this is what a community is,” Obama said.
He pointed to moments during the performance at Levi’s Stadium that showed older and younger generations sharing the spotlight.
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“People who did not speak Spanish and have never been to Puerto Rico, they saw that elderly woman serving a drink, and the kids dancing with their grandmas,” Obama said. “It was intergenerational and it was a reminder of what Dr. King called ‘the beloved community’ can look like, which is not perfect and it’s messy sometimes.”
Obama acknowledged that not every lyric would satisfy every audience.
“You know, I guarantee you not all those lyrics were probably politically correct and if you translated them... you know, people are complicated. But there was a sense of, all right, there’s room for everybody here.”
Trump and GOP lawmakers call for scrutiny
The praise from Obama stands in sharp contrast to the reaction from President Donald Trump and several Republican lawmakers.
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In a post on Truth Social, Trump called the halftime show “absolutely terrible, one of the worst, EVER!” and said it “doesn’t represent our standards of Success, Creativity, or Excellence.” He also criticized the language barrier and described parts of the dancing as inappropriate for children watching the broadcast.
The backlash soon moved beyond social media.
Rep. Randy Fine wrote on X that elements of the show were “illegal,” arguing that profanity aired during a live television broadcast could violate Federal Communications Commission rules.
"You can't say the f-word on live TV. 'Bad Bunny's' disgusting halftime show was illegal,” Fine wrote, adding that he and other lawmakers were sending a letter to FCC Chairman Brendan Carr calling for “dramatic action, including fines and broadcast license reviews, against the NFL, NBC and 'Bad Bunny'. Lock them up.”
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The FCC oversees broadcast television and can issue fines for indecency violations, though enforcement especially during live events has historically been inconsistent and often debated.
A cultural flashpoint on a national stage
Bad Bunny, born Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, became the first artist to deliver a Super Bowl halftime show entirely in Spanish during one of the most-watched annual broadcasts in the United States. At one point, a message appeared on stadium screens reading: “The only thing more powerful than hate is love.”
Supporters described the performance as a celebration of Puerto Rican identity and bilingual American culture. Critics viewed it as unsuitable for a mass audience.
British broadcaster Piers Morgan weighed in online, writing: “I thought the whole point of their rage was they didn’t understand the lyrics?”
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Super Bowl halftime shows have frequently sparked debate from wardrobe controversies to political statements but the reaction to this year’s performance underscores how quickly cultural moments can become partisan ones when played out before a nationwide audience of millions.
Sources: Public posts on Truth Social and X; interview with Brian Tyler Cohen.
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