Bad BunnyS Super Bowl Performance Ignites Right-wing Backlash Rooted in Decades of Anti-Latino Sentiment
GLENDALE, AZ – The proclamation of Bad Bunny as the Super Bowl LVII halftime performer has triggered a wave of criticism and outrage from conservative figures, revealing a long history of suspicion and hostility towards latin artists and the Spanish language in the United States. The backlash underscores a growing trend of anti-Latino rhetoric amplified in recent years, notably as the 2016 election.
The controversy echoes a similar incident last year when singer Nezza was prohibited from performing “The Star-Spangled Banner” in Spanish at a Los Angeles Dodgers game. Nezza explained to Rolling Stone that “portrayal matters.” She further pointed out that President Franklin D. Roosevelt commissioned an official Spanish version of the anthem,”El Pendón Estrellado,” in 1945 to honor Latin Americans,stating,”The heart of the anthem does not change with the language. So why was I told I couldn’t sing it? Make it make sense.”
Throughout music history,Latin artists have faced prejudice and doubt. However, this sentiment has intensified with the rise of increasingly hostile political discourse. The current administration has been accused of antagonizing Latino communities, spreading anti-Latino rhetoric, and enacting harsh policies towards immigrants, including publicizing images of arrests and detentions.
The politicization of language is also central to the current debate. Speaking Spanish has been framed by some conservatives as un-American. Following his election, former President Trump issued an executive order aimed at establishing English as the official language of the U.S., and the White House removed Spanish translations from its official websites.Viral videos circulating on social media depict confrontations with individuals speaking Spanish, falsely associating the language with those deemed not to “belong” in the country. according to recent data,approximately 18 percent of the U.S. population is bilingual.
Despite the opposition, Bad Bunny is scheduled to perform in February, and is expected to perform his songs in Spanish. This act, in itself, will represent the country’s approximately 20 percent Latino population and acknowledge the contributions of Latin artists who have shaped American music. His performance will be a statement of cultural identity and self-expression, deeply rooted in American history.
