Super Bowl Sunday is supposed to be about football, family, and a halftime show that brings Americans together. Instead, viewers of Super Bowl LX at Levi’s Stadium were treated to what many are now calling one of the most vulgar and divisive halftime performances in National Football League history.
Headlined by Bad Bunny, the show leaned heavily into sexually explicit reggaeton lyrics, aggressive choreography, and overt cultural messaging that critics argue clashed with the tone of a family oriented national broadcast.
For millions of Americans gathered around their televisions, the performance was not unity. It was shock value.
Repulsive Lyrics On A National Stage
The set list featured some of the artist’s most repulsive tracks, including:
• SaFaeRa
• Tití Me Preguntó
• Yo Perreo Sola
• El Apagón
These songs are widely known for graphic sexual themes, explicit boasting, and crude lyrical imagery. While that style may be common within certain segments of the music industry, many viewers questioned whether it belonged in the middle of America’s largest sporting event.
The themes are unmistakable: sexual conquest, explicit innuendo, and aggressive bravado. There was little restraint and even less effort to adapt the material for a broad, cross generational audience.
Parents expecting a neutral halftime spectacle instead found themselves reacting to provocative dance moves and lyrics many consider inappropriate for prime time broadcast television.
A Gender Bending Persona In Prime Time
The performance also showcased the artist’s well known gender bending fashion aesthetic. Bad Bunny has frequently appeared in skirts, painted nails, and attire traditionally associated with women.
Supporters describe this as artistic expression. Critics argue that injecting gender politics into a mass audience family broadcast felt calculated and unnecessary.
The Super Bowl halftime show is not a niche concert for a specific subculture. It is a nationally televised event watched by families across the country.
For many viewers, the styling and choreography appeared designed more to provoke than to entertain.
Political Messaging & Cultural Tension
The artist has previously criticized United States policy toward Puerto Rico and has used performances to highlight political grievances. His music often includes themes about identity, sovereignty, and resistance to perceived federal neglect.
Supporters call this cultural pride. Critics see it as antagonistic messaging delivered on one of America’s biggest stages.
The tension was evident throughout the show. Rather than leaning into universally recognizable hits or bilingual crossover appeal, the set was delivered almost entirely in Spanish without subtitles or translation.
Spanish is widely spoken across the United States. Latino culture is an essential part of the national fabric. However, critics argue that refusing to provide translation during a broadcast watched by more than 100 million Americans created unnecessary distance between performer and audience.
A halftime show is typically designed to unify. This one amplified division.
GOP Lawmakers Call For FCC Review
In the immediate aftermath of the broadcast, several Republican lawmakers publicly called for federal scrutiny of the halftime show, arguing that the performance crossed the line into indecency during a nationally televised event.
Among the most outspoken was Randy Fine, who posted on social media demanding accountability and writing, “Lock them up,” in reference to those responsible for approving the performance.
Other conservative commentators urged the Federal Communications Commission to examine whether the broadcast violated federal indecency standards. The Super Bowl aired on NBC, a major broadcast network subject to FCC oversight.
Under federal regulations, broadcast networks can face fines for airing obscene or indecent material during hours when children are likely to be watching. While cable and streaming services operate under different standards, traditional networks remain accountable to federal guidelines.
As of publication, no formal enforcement action has been announced. However, viewer complaints can trigger review processes, and lawmakers are openly pressing for examination of the broadcast.
The controversy has reignited long standing debates about decency standards, corporate responsibility, and the boundaries of artistic expression during nationally televised events.
Shock Over Substance
Social media reaction was immediate and intense. Viewers described the performance as inappropriate, vulgar, and disconnected from mainstream America.
Clips highlighting sexually suggestive choreography circulated widely. Commentators debated whether the NFL misjudged its core audience.
There is a difference between edgy entertainment and gratuitous shock value. For many Americans, Sunday night crossed that line.
The Bigger Picture For The NFL
The National Football League has spent years navigating cultural and political controversy. From anthem debates to social messaging campaigns, the league has repeatedly found itself at the center of national discourse.
Super Bowl LX added another chapter to that story.
The NFL has built its dominance on broad appeal. Its audience spans political, generational, and cultural lines. When halftime programming alienates a significant portion of that audience, the consequences extend beyond one evening’s ratings.
Supporters argue that the performance reflected evolving cultural realities. Critics argue that the league abandoned its responsibility to deliver a unifying, family friendly event.
Super Bowl LX may ultimately be remembered less for the game itself and more for a halftime show that ignited a national debate over culture, decency, and corporate judgment.
America tuned in for football. Instead, it got filth.
Featured image credit: DepositPhotos.com
