‘Blunt’ Bad Bunny Makes Controversial Statement About ICE a Week Before Super Bowl Halftime Show Performance

After winning his latest Grammy Award, Bad Bunny, set to perform at Super Bowl LX, spoke out against the brutality of federal law enforcement.

‘Blunt’ Bad Bunny Makes Controversial Statement About ICE a Week Before Super Bowl Halftime Show Performance

Bad Bunny on SNL (Image via IMAGO)

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Bad Bunny‘s first course of action after winning a Grammy was to take shots at ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement). He preached tolerance and inclusivity.

The Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, home of the Lakers, hosted the 68th Grammy Awards, where Bad Bunny’s DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS won the Best Música Urbana Album. Upon receiving the Grammy, the 31-year-old Puerto Rican singer/songwriter turned toward the audience and delivered a powerful speech.

Before I say thanks to God, I’m going to say, ICE out. We’re not savages, we’re not animals. We are humans, and we are Americans. The only thing that is more powerful than hate is love.

Bad Bunny said

ICE’s controversial role in deporting illegal immigrants from the U.S. has long been a point of contention. Among the vocal critics of the drive is Bad Bunny. He tours all over the western seaboard but has so far avoided performing on the US mainland. That doesn’t mean he dislikes the American people, quite the opposite. However, he won’t hold a solo show because he doesn’t want people of different ethnicities to risk falling victim to ICE brutality.

People from the U.S. could come here [in Puerto Rico] to see the show. Latinos and Puerto Ricans of the United States could also travel here, or to any part of the world. But there was the issue of—like, [expletive] ICE could be outside.

Bad Bunny told I-D Magazine

A man in Minneapolis recently died during an ICE cleansing drive. Moreover, there have been several cases where officers have used force to apprehend people they consider suspicious.

How did the NFL choose Bad Bunny to headline the halftime show at Super Bowl LX?

In September 2025, the NFL announced that Bad Bunny would headline the Super Bowl halftime show at Levi’s Stadium in California. One of the names that the “WELTITA” singer edged out was Taylor Swift. Now the question arises: how did the NFL pick Bad Bunny?

'Blunt' Bad Bunny Makes Controversial Statement About ICE a Week Before Super Bowl Halftime Show Performance
Bad Bunny (Image via IMAGO)

Jon Barker, the NFL senior vice president and global head of major events, explained the process to Jayna Bardahl of The Athletic in detail.

What we really look at first and foremost is who’s the right artist for that moment [Super Bowl halftime show]. And we absolutely 100 percent believe and know that Bad Bunny is the right artist for this moment, for this show. We’re already successful, having Bad Bunny a part of it.

Jon Barker revealed

The league partnered with Jay-Z‘s Roc Nation in 2020, whose job is compiling the list of suitable performers for the job. However, the final say remains with the league.

When they come to the decision on who they believe to be the right artist, they bring that to a very small group of the NFL, and then we move forward from there.

Barker added

Despite the tough selection process, President Donald Trump disliked the NFL’s choice to have Bad Bunny perform at the Super Bowl. Trump urged the NFL to find someone else. In reply, Commissioner Roger Goodell declared that the league committee won’t alter its verdict.

It’s carefully thought through. I’m not sure we’ve ever selected an artist where we didn’t have some blowback or criticism. It’s pretty hard to do when you have literally hundreds of millions of people that are watching.

Goodell said

Bad Bunny is set to walk in the footsteps of musicians like Kendrick Lamar, Usher, Rihanna, Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, 50 Cent, and Mary J. Blige, who have performed during the Super Bowl halftime show.

Federal agents will be stationed outside the venue on February 8. However, the authorities confirmed that ICE will not conduct the immigration drive and will only be providing security at the stadium instead.

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