Over 100,000 Fans Petition to Replace Bad Bunny at Super Bowl Halftime
A petition on Change.org calling for Bad Bunny to be replaced by country music icon George Strait at the 2026 Super Bowl halftime show has surpassed 100,000 signatures.
The petition, updated Monday, criticizes the NFL’s choice of the Puerto Rican superstar to perform at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California.
The creator of the petition, Kar Shell, argues that Bad Bunny’s performances do not fit the family-friendly tone traditionally expected at the Super Bowl. “While this approach certainly broadens the audience, it’s pivotal to remember the roots that have made American music what it is today,” the petition states.
It praises Strait as someone who “embodies the heart and soul of American music” and whose songs appeal to multiple generations. The petition adds that the halftime show “should unite our country, honor American culture, and remain family-friendly, not be turned into a political stunt. Bad Bunny represents none of these values; his drag performances and style are the opposite of what families expect on football’s biggest stage.”
Despite the petition, the NFL has confirmed that Bad Bunny will remain the headliner for Super Bowl LX on February 8, 2026. The show is being produced by Jay-Z’s Roc Nation. Bad Bunny, born Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, is a global music star expected to attract many first-time viewers to the Super Bowl.
Speaking after the announcement on “Saturday Night Live,” Bad Bunny expressed excitement and pride in representing the Latino community. “I’m very excited to be doing the Super Bowl, and I know that people all around the world who love my music are also happy,” he said.
He added in Spanish, “Especially all of the Latinos and Latinas in the world here in the United States who have worked to open doors. It’s more than a win for myself, it’s a win for all of us. Our footprints and our contribution in this country, no one will ever be able to take that away or erase it.”
He also noted, “What I’m feeling goes beyond myself. It’s for those who came before me and ran countless yards so I could come in and score a touchdown…this is for my people, my culture, and our history.”
Bad Bunny has previously spoken out against President Donald Trump, starting in 2017 after Hurricane Maria, when he wore a shirt criticizing Trump’s response to the disaster.
He has also addressed issues related to ICE raids and U.S. immigration policies. In a September 2025 interview with i-D magazine, he explained why he avoided U.S. stops on part of his tour, saying, “There was the issue of, like, f**** ICE could be outside (my concert), and it’s something that we were talking about and very concerned about.”
His 2025 song “Nuevayol” features a radio broadcast with a voice impersonating Trump, saying, “I made a mistake. I want to apologize to the immigrants in America…This country is nothing without the immigrants. This country is nothing without Mexicans, Dominicans, Puerto Ricans, Colombians, Venezuelans, Cubans.”
The petition reflects a divide among fans in the U.S., with some wanting a traditional, country-oriented halftime show and others celebrating Bad Bunny’s cultural representation and global popularity.
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