Bad Bunny's "illegal" halftime show needs investigation: Republicans
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Bad Bunny performs at the Super Bowl 60 halftime show on Feb. 8 in Santa Clara, California. Photo: Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images
House Republicans are calling on the Federal Communications Commission to investigate Bad Bunny's Super Bowl halftime performance, suggesting the content and lyrics of the Puerto Rican star's show were "illegal."
The big picture: Many of the explicit lyrics cited by Bad Bunny critics are literal translations of his songs but were not actually performed during the February 8 halftime show.
What they're saying: Rep. Randy Fine on Monday announced that he and other Republicans would send a letter to the FCC calling for "fines and broadcast license reviews" against the NFL, NBC and Bad Bunny.
- "Had he said these lyrics -- and all of the other disgusting and pornographic filth in English on live TV, the broadcast would have been pulled down and the fines would have been enormous," Fine said on X.
Reality check: Bad Bunny did sing a portion of the song "Safarea," which describes sexual acts — though the suggestive words were bleeped during the broadcast.
- The performance also included a brief homage to Daddy Yankee's "Gasolina." While the chorus is a euphemism, none of the lyrics sang were explicitly sexual.
- Bad Bunny did not once say the "f-word" during the performance, contrary to Fine's suggestion.
Rep. Andy Ogles on Monday also sent a letter to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce seeking a formal inquiry into the NFL and NBCUniversal for their "prior knowledge, review, and approval of explicit and indecent content," during the show.
- Ogles claimed that "children were forced to endure" sexual dancing and lyrics that "openly glorified" certain sexual activities.
Zoom in: While Bad Bunny is known for sexually explicit lyrics, supporters emphasized the cultural depth and symbolism woven throughout the performance.
- Bad Bunny performed "NUERVAYoL," an homage to El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico's 1975 salsa classic "Un Verano en Nueva York," which tells the story of Puerto Ricans' summer visits to Spanish Harlem and Brooklyn.
- Special guest Ricky Martin performed an acoustic version of Bad Bunny's "Lo Que Le Pasó a Hawaii" ("What Happened to Hawaii"), which addresses protecting Puerto Rican culture from over-tourism.
- The show also featured a real-life wedding, and a moment in which Bad Bunny handed his historic, recently won Grammy to a young boy — symbolizing opportunity and legacy for the next generation.
Flashback: It's not the first time viewers have objected to the sexual nature of a Super Bowl halftime show — though Republicans are now pushing for regulatory scrutiny.
- After Rihanna's halftime performance in 2023, the FCC received 103 formal complaints, many criticizing what they described as sexualized lyrics and inappropriate choreography.
Go deeper: Bad Bunny responds to Super Bowl critics, urges them to learn Spanish
Axios' Esteban L. Hernandez and Russell Contreras contributed reporting.
