Celebrities Weigh In as Bad Bunny‘s Super Bowl Performance Faces Criticism
A wave of reactions from celebrities has followed the NFL’s declaration of bad Bunny as the Super Bowl LVIII halftime performer, with opinions ranging from staunch defense to outright disapproval. The controversy highlights the challenges of appealing to a massive, diverse audience and underscores the growing influence of pop culture within the traditionally sports-focused event. As the Super Bowl approaches, the debate continues to fuel discussion about artist selection and the evolving role of the halftime show.
NFL Commissioner roger Goodell has publicly defended the choice, citing Bad Bunny’s global popularity and acknowledging that criticism is commonplace with any halftime show selection. Though, several prominent figures have voiced their dissent, with some arguing a different artist would have been a more fitting choice.
Goodell, speaking at a news conference in October, emphasized the significance of the Super Bowl stage. “He’s one of the leading and most popular entertainers in the world,” he stated. “that’s what we try to achieve. It’s an critically important stage for us. it’s an important element to the entertainment value, and it’s carefully thought through.” He further noted, “I’m not sure we’ve ever selected an artist where we didn’t have some blowback and criticism…It’s pretty hard to do when you have literally hundreds of millions of people that are watching.”
Former Tennessee Titans tackle Taylor Lewan expressed his disagreement with the NFL’s decision during a september appearance on Up & Adams. While acknowledging Bad Bunny’s talent, Lewan suggested Taylor Swift would have been a more appropriate selection. “I think the NFL might have made a mistake making Bad Bunny the halftime Super Bowl show,” Lewan told host Kay Adams. “It should have been Taylor Swift. She has been integrating in this world of football. She’s been meshing two wholly different cultures into one another.”
