Jill Zarin, a former cast member on The Real Housewives of New York City, sparked controversy online after sharing – and then rapidly removing – a harsh review of Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl halftime performance.
On Sunday, the 62-year-old reality TV star posted a video to Instagram criticizing the halftime show, calling it the worst she’d ever seen and saying it wasn’t suitable for kids.
‘It was the worst halftime show ever. I just don’t think it was appropriate to have it in Spanish and, quite frankly … grabbing his G [groin] area,’ Zarin said in the now-deleted clip. ‘I think it was totally inappropriate.’
She added that with so many young people watching the Super Bowl, the performer didn’t need to constantly draw attention to himself due to insecurity. She felt it was unnecessary and a bit much.
Zarin also criticized the performance’s wording, claiming it seemed to express a political viewpoint.
She admitted she doesn’t understand Spanish and wished she knew what the man was saying. She felt the performance appeared to be a political statement, noting the complete absence of white people. She didn’t want to express a preference either way, but believed it involved Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and felt the NFL had compromised its values, which she found disappointing.
The response was immediate and strong, as people quickly challenged her statement that ‘no white people’ were present, especially considering Lady Gaga was performing with a person of color at the time.
After receiving a lot of negative comments on Instagram, Zarin eventually turned off the ability for people to comment on her posts.
Even though she posted the video with comments enabled, people continued to criticize her in the comments section.
Some of the most popular comments included questions about segregated water fountains, a viewer cancelling plans to watch a new show because the Super Bowl halftime show was so good, and inquiries about a missing Super Bowl post.
After a lot of criticism, Zarin took down the video, but parts of it are still being shared online.
The disagreement rapidly gained attention, extending beyond just Zarin’s social media and prompting reactions from other stars on Bravo and fans alike.
Real Housewives alum Tamra Judge reacted bluntly on X, writing: ‘What the actual F*#k.’
Janet Caperna, from The Valley, made a comment implying someone was racist, saying, ‘Tell me you’re racist without telling me you’re racist…YIKES!!!’
Chanel Ayan, a star on The Real Housewives of Dubai, said she was very upset by a post made by Zarin.
Bozoma Saint John, a cast member on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, criticized Jill Zarin for initially claiming to be neutral, then immediately showing clear support for one side of an issue.
Saint John shared that he particularly loved Benito Bowl, appreciating its beauty, rich culture, historical significance, and the powerful message it conveyed.
Critics called out Zarin for being a hypocrite, noting that the Super Bowl has frequently featured performances just as suggestive, if not more so.
One social media user pointed out the hypocrisy surrounding the Super Bowl halftime show, noting that performances by artists like Shakira, Jennifer Lopez, and Michael Jackson previously featured suggestive content and revealing outfits without widespread criticism. They questioned why there’s suddenly so much outrage over this year’s show.
Many people saw Bad Bunny’s performance as a celebration of culture, not an attempt to cause political trouble.
As a huge fan, I was so excited for this new show, and honestly, it felt like the creators really intended it as a positive statement for our country – a message of coming together, happiness, and choosing love instead of negativity. It’s just really let me down, I was truly looking forward to it.
Some viewers stated that comments made by Zarin discouraged them from watching her new docuseries, called The Golden Life.
One person said they were already hesitant about watching the new Real Housewives of New York show because Jill’s behavior is awkward to watch, and now they’ve decided not to watch it at all.
A second X user wrote: ‘We need a petition to fire Jill Zarin before she even starts filming.’
Others went further, criticizing what they viewed as outdated attitudes.
That’s why the original housewives aren’t successful anymore – people don’t want to watch TV shows featuring cast members who seem out of touch or have very traditional views.
Many people also highlighted the huge viewership of the halftime show, with one fan saying, ‘135 million people watched Bad Bunny’s performance and it was fantastic.’
The strongest criticisms labeled Jill Zarin as racist, with one person online calling her a ‘shameful, ignorant, and blatant racist’.
Zarin and the NFL haven’t commented publicly on the criticism, but the situation has made the already divided opinions about Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl show even stronger.
The Daily Mail contacted Zarin and NBCUniversal for a response, but they haven’t replied yet.
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2026-02-09 23:49