Monica Puig Reacts to Bad Bunny’s Political Controversy on Super Bowl Halftime Show
Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl halftime show has sparked political controversy.
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Monica Puig (via Sportskeeda)
The Super Bowl halftime show hasn’t been just about “entertainment” for a long time. It’s a cultural statement. It’s a massive, flashing neon sign that shows the viewers exactly where pop culture stands at that moment in history. So, when the NFL announced that Bad Bunny would be headlining Super Bowl LX in 2026, many would think it would be a slam dunk.
But, of course, this is the internet. And because it’s the internet, the viewers can’t have nice things without a little drama. Almost immediately after the announcement dropped, the backlash started brewing. Critics were quick to jump on their soapboxes, arguing that the slot should have gone to an “American artist.”
It’s a tired argument that ignores a pretty crucial geography lesson: Puerto Rico is a U.S. territory. But beyond the geography, the noise got loud enough that Puerto Rico’s own Olympic legend, Monica Puig, decided she had heard enough. Puig said on Arab News:
It’s been a really controversial moment, which has been hard to see because, being from Puerto Rico, it is an American territory, it is part of the United States. And people have really said they wanted an American artist (to perform at the Super Bowl) when we are an American territory. We have a US passport, US currency, everything. We are part of the United States. The only thing that we cannot do is vote for the president. But we are essentially part of the US.
Despite the controversy, Puig maintained that Bad Bunny deserved it. She claims that Bunny’s worldwide success contributes to his selection in the Super Bowl.
He’s earned it. Album of the Year. His album has resonated with all of Puerto Rico. It has even made a big international impact.
By backing Bad Bunny, she validated what his fans already knew: this isn’t a “diversity hire” or a token gesture by the NFL. This is a recognition of hard work. Puig understands the pressure of representing a culture on a global stage, and she sees that same burden in Benito.
The “Not American Enough” argument falls flat
Before getting into Monica Puig‘s defense, the viewers have to look at how ridiculous the criticism actually is. Bad Bunny, born Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, has been dominating global charts for years.
He was the most-streamed artist on Spotify for multiple years in a row. He isn’t just a “Latin star”; he is a global phenomenon.
The criticism that the NFL should have picked an “American” feels particularly hollow when you look at the reality of the music industry today. The NFL is a business. They want eyeballs.
They want global reach. And right now, there is no one reaching more corners of the globe than Bad Bunny. The idea that performing in Spanish somehow disqualifies him from the biggest stage in American sports says more about the critics than it does about the artist.
A history of breaking barriers
It’s interesting to see Monica Puig take this stand because it aligns perfectly with her own legacy. She recently praised rising tennis star Alex Eala, noting how important it is for athletes to break barriers for their countries. Puig has always been a champion for the underdog and for those pushing the envelope of what is expected.
For Bad Bunny, the stakes are high. While J.Lo and Shakira shattered the glass ceiling for Latinas at the Super Bowl a few years back, a solo headlining gig primarily in Spanish is a different beast entirely. It forces mainstream America to engage with a culture that has been influencing its music, food, and fashion for decades, whether they want to admit it or not.
From a business perspective, the NFL knows exactly what it’s doing. They aren’t trying to just keep the same audience they had in 1995. They are looking at the future. And the future is global.
The music analysts are right on this one: the halftime show is a vehicle for international expansion. By ignoring the noise and sticking with Bad Bunny, the league is betting on the future. And with heavy hitters like Puig co-signing the move, the backlash starts to look less like a movement and more like a vocal minority yelling at clouds.
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