FCC drops trove of viewer complaints over Bad Bunny’s ‘disgusting’ Super Bowl halftime show

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Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl halftime performance was widely celebrated as a significant moment for Latin music and Puerto Rican culture, bringing them to the forefront of American pop culture.

Not everyone thought so, though.

Music

Just before the Super Bowl, activists secretly handed out 15,000 flyers to fans as they entered Levi’s Stadium. They were trying to build support for an artist who recently used their Grammy Awards speech to advocate for Latinos and immigrants.

The Federal Communications Commission has made public a large number of complaints from viewers about the musician’s performance, as well as complaints against NBC and the NFL, who broadcast the show.

Many people were upset by what they considered to be inappropriate lyrics and dancing by Bad Bunny, especially since the performance was aired where children could see it.

One Las Vegas viewer was deeply disturbed by a recent show, stating they had to remove their children from the room because of its offensive content. They emphasized that inappropriate language is unacceptable in any language and called it the most upsetting thing they’d seen on live television in years.

Voices

Essay: Decoding Bad Bunny’s triumphantly Puerto Rican Super Bowl halftime show

Puerto Rican journalist Tatiana Tenreyro breaks down the most culturally Puerto Rican aspects of Bad Bunny’s incredible Super Bowl halftime performance, and explores his powerful message calling for solidarity across the Americas against injustice.

An Ohio resident reported seeing two men engaging in sexual activity during the NFL halftime show, specifically behind a pickup truck. The viewer was upset, stating that despite the NFL generally being considered family-friendly, their children were disturbed by what they witnessed.

A viewer in Charlotte, North Carolina, who clearly knew Bad Bunny’s music, criticized the vocals on the songs “Safaera” and “Yo Perreo Sola.” Both songs are known for their explicit and suggestive content – “Safaera” in the lyrics, and “Yo Perreo Sola” in its dance choreography, which included provocative movements like twerking and grinding.

Awards

Bad Bunny’s album, ‘Débi Tirar Más Fotos,’ won Album of the Year at the Grammy Awards on Sunday – a historic first for a Spanish-language album. This is the first time the Recording Academy has given its highest honor to an LP sung in Spanish.

Honestly, after all the fuss, I don’t think the FCC’s review in February really satisfied anyone. They said the lyrics had been changed enough for TV, but it didn’t really address the concerns people had, you know?

Florida Representative Randy Fine has asked the Federal Communications Commission to look into the Super Bowl halftime show. He told the New York Post that the performance with Bad Bunny was offensive and shouldn’t be broadcast on TV again.

A lot of the feedback from viewers echoed what former President Trump said on social media after the show, with many calling it “one of the worst ever!”

The president complained that the performer’s speech was unintelligible and the dancing inappropriate, particularly for young viewers both in the United States and internationally.

Right before the Super Bowl, Bad Bunny won a Grammy for his album “Debí Tirar Más Fotos” and used his acceptance speech, along with other artists, to protest against harsh ICE raids. Concerned for his safety, the popular artist chose to perform an extended series of concerts in Puerto Rico instead of touring the mainland U.S.

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2026-05-10 00:31