Unhealthy Bunny closed his Tremendous Bowl LX halftime present with a message of purported unity, “collectively we’re America” — however keen-eyed critics rapidly slammed the song-and-dance act a divisive and “degenerate” efficiency.
And the Puerto Rican star made no effort in his Spanish-only efficiency to incorporate the 78% of American households that talk solely English.
Unhealthy Bunny beforehand taunted that anybody irritated along with his choice as halftime performer had “4 months to be taught Spanish.”
“Increasing to the Latino viewers is one factor. Doing a present EXCLUSIVELY for the Latino viewers? They’re gonna hear about this one,” “Sopranos” and E Avenue Band legend Steven Van Zandt groused by way of X.
“I’m sorry, no subtitles was a nasty choice and an insult to the viewers. Subtitles would have been ‘countering division,’ having none encourages it.”
President Trump additionally weighed in to blast the halftime present as an “affront to the Greatness of America.”
“The Tremendous Bowl Halftime Present is totally horrible, one of many worst, EVER! It is unnecessary, is an affront to the Greatness of America, and doesn’t symbolize our requirements of Success, Creativity, or Excellence. No person understands a phrase this man is saying, and the dancing is disgusting, particularly for younger kids which might be watching from all through the united statesA., and everywhere in the World,” President Trump fumed on Fact Social.
The president had publicly mentioned he wouldn’t be watching this yr’s large recreation after the lefty artist — actual identify Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio — was introduced because the halftime leisure at Levi’s Stadium.
A lot of the efficiency happened in a makeshift sugar cane discipline arrange on the gridiron, the place straw-hatted actors portraying migrants appeared onerous at work harvesting the crop, conspicuously dabbing sweat from their brows.
Unhealthy Bunny meandered by way of the maze of sugar cane, passing meals cart distributors, old-timers taking part in dominos, nail salon workers and a cluster of scantily-clad girls standing beside a pile of cinderblocks, presumably a whimsical nod to building employees.
The routine’s theme centered round professions with an outsize migrant footprint, a fastidiously curated little bit of messaging by the famously anti-ICE pop star.
“This ‘Present’ is only a ‘slap within the face’ to our Nation, which is setting new requirements and data each single day — together with the Finest Inventory Market and 401(ok)s in Historical past,” Trump raged.
“There’s nothing inspirational about this mess of a Halftime Present and watch, it should get nice critiques from the Pretend Information Media, as a result of they haven’t obtained a clue of what’s going on within the REAL WORLD — And, by the way in which, the NFL ought to instantly change its ridiculous new Kickoff Rule. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”
And even in Spanish Unhealthy Bunny’s lyrics sparked controversy — significantly the tune “Tití Me Preguntó” (My Auntie Requested Me”), which is about sleeping with a number of girls.
“Worse than I noticed. Pure degeneracy,” mentioned Andrew Kolvet, of Turning Level USA.
In response to the controversial efficiency, Turning Level concurrently broadcast its “All-American” halftime present as counter-programming, which celebrated blue-collar employees and featured a tribute to TUPSA founder Charlie Kirk, who was allegedly murdered in September by a Trump-hating radical leftist.
The choice present — which was considered by greater than 5 million folks — featured unapologetically American performers together with Child Rock, Brantley Gilbert, Lee Brice and Gabby Barrett, with the Stars and Stripes taking middle stage all through the hour-long live performance.
Again in Santa Clara, New York-born Girl Gaga carried out a rendition of Bruno Mars’ “Die With a Smile” — additionally in Spanish.
Close to the top of the halftime present, Unhealthy Bunny emerged from the thick of a sugar cane discipline, brandishing the Puerto Rican flag whereas surrounded by dancers mimicking energy line employees.
Towards the backdrop of a scoreboard displaying a retread of his “The one factor extra highly effective than hate is love” Grammy’s speech, Unhealthy Bunny then rattled off the names of each nation within the Americas as a procession held aloft the flags of each nation talked about.
He then held up a soccer emblazoned with “Collectively, we’re America” earlier than triumphantly spiking it.
A bunch of conservative influencers gave the efficiency poor marks for its divisive tenor and heavy-handed messaging.
“The NFL having a Tremendous Bowl Halftime Present the place their performer sings ENTIRELY in Spanish & waves different nation’s flags, is 100% a political assertion,” Jon Root wrote on X.
“Unhealthy Bunny will go down because the worst halftime present within the historical past of the league. America deserved higher for its 250th birthday,” he wrote.
“Nah, I like my half time reveals in English from ppl who love America,” Fox Information host turned podcaster Megyn Kelly wrote disdainfully.
“Name me loopy, however the Tremendous Bowl Halftime Present, essentially the most American second on TV, needs to be in English,” wrote influencer Kangmin Lee, who mentioned he “didn’t perceive a phrase” of the efficiency.
Curiously, Ocasio additionally worn out his complete Instagram publish historical past quickly after the printed with no rationalization given, perplexing his greater than 52 million followers.
