The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has dismissed concerns regarding potential broadcast decency violations stemming from Terrible Bunny’s Super Bowl LXI halftime show, confirming the performance adhered to regulatory standards. The decision follows a wave of criticism from Republican lawmakers who accused the Puerto Rican superstar of airing explicit content, despite the show being edited to remove potentially offensive lyrics.
Representative Andy Ogles of Tennessee led the charge, calling for a federal investigation into the performance, specifically citing lyrical content from Bad Bunny’s track “Safaera” as “graphic” and “indecent.” In a letter to the House Energy and Commerce Committee, Ogles demanded a “formal congressional inquiry” into both the NFL and NBCUniversal for broadcasting the show. Florida Representative Randy Fine echoed these concerns in a letter to FCC Chairman Brendan Carr, stating the performance was “despicable” and violated American broadcasting laws, referencing a lyric from Bad Bunny’s song “NUEVAYoL” as a reference to cocaine.
The controversy centered on the fact that Bad Bunny performed primarily in Spanish, a point of contention for many within the MAGA movement, as highlighted by Politico. Critics initially focused on the language itself, with former President Donald Trump labeling the show “absolutely terrible” and an “affront to the Greatness of America” on his Truth Social platform, as reported by multiple sources including MassLive.
The FCC’s ruling, reported by the Modern York Post, was based on the fact that songs like “Tití Me Preguntó,” “Monaco,” and “Safaera” were scrubbed of their most explicit lyrics before being performed during the 13-minute halftime show. Sources confirmed the agency “have shelved any additional scrutiny barring further evidence.”
The backlash prompted a response from former President Barack Obama, who defended the performance during an interview with YouTuber Brian Tyler Cohen. Obama described the show as “smart” and “showing” rather than “preaching,” emphasizing its ability to connect with a diverse audience. He noted the imagery of an elderly woman serving drinks and families dancing together as a demonstration of “what Dr. King called ‘the beloved community’ can seem like.” He acknowledged the potential for politically incorrect lyrics but maintained there was “room for everybody here.”
Despite the controversy, Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl performance proved to be a ratings success, ranking as the fourth-highest viewed halftime show in Super Bowl history with 128.2 million viewers. This figure places it behind Kendrick Lamar’s 2025 performance (133.5 million), Michael Jackson’s 1993 show (133.4 million) and Usher’s 2024 performance (129.3 million). Apple Music reported a seven-fold increase in listens to Bad Bunny’s music following the show, with “DtMF,” “BAILE INoLVIDABLE,” and “Tití Me Preguntó” leading the surge.
Bad Bunny is scheduled to embark on a European tour beginning in May 2026, with performances planned in Spain, Portugal, Germany, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, France, Sweden, Poland, Italy, and Belgium. The tour dates are as follows:
- 22 May – 23 May 2026: Barcelona, Spain – Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys
- 26 May – 27 May 2026: Lisbon, Portugal – Estadio da Luz
- 30 May – 15 Jun 2026: Madrid, Spain – Riyadh Air Metropolitano
- 20 Jun – 21 Jun 2026: Düsseldorf, Germany – Merkur Spiel-Arena
- 23 Jun – 24 Jun 2026: Arnhem, Netherlands – GelreDome
- 27 Jun – 28 Jun 2026: London, UK – Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
- 1 Jul 2026: Marseille, France – Orange Vélodrome
- 4 Jul – 5 Jul 2026: Paris, France – La Défense Arena
- 10 Jul – 11 Jul 2026: Stockholm, Sweden – Strawberry Arena
- 14 Jul 2026: Warsaw, Poland – PGE Narodowy
- 17 Jul – 18 Jul 2026: Milan, Italy – Ippodromo Snai La Maura
- 22 Jul 2026: Brussels, Belgium – King Baudouin Stadium
