Bill Maher blasts conservative backlash to Bad Bunny halftime show: ‘Be a little sympathetic’

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: On Friday, February 13, television host Bill Maher sharply criticized conservative backlash to Puerto Rican rapper Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl Halftime Show during an episode of 'Real Time With Bill Maher.'

The outspoken host delivered a blunt takedown of conservatives who criticized the rapper’s Spanish-language performance and his earlier remarks on the Trump administration’s immigration policies. Maher’s remarks came as reactions to the halftime show continued to spread across political and cultural conversations following Super Bowl LX.

Bill Maher’s takedown of Republicans’ response on Bad Bunny

Maher opened his monologue with humor, saying, “Be a little sympathetic. A lot of conservative America is very b*tt‑hurt these days. They’re still recovering from the halftime show.”

He then addressed key GOP complaints directly, pointing out that many conservatives disliked the show first because it was primarily performed in Spanish. He then critiqued how critics shifted to calling the performance “smutty” or overly inappropriate.

Maher also remarked on the criticism of Bad Bunny’s lyrics by joking, “Well, what do you expect? He's not called Good Bunny.” 

Taking a personal angle, Maher admitted he didn’t understand the Spanish lyrics either, but said that wasn’t a reason to dismiss the performance. “I never understood a word Mick Jagger said either, but I still enjoyed his show,” he quipped. 

He compared watching the show to experiencing Olympic curling, confusing at first but ultimately enjoyable. “I had no idea what the f*ck was happening, but I was like, everyone looks like they're having fun. F*ck it, I'm in."

Bad Bunny’s halftime show sparks political backlash

Maher’s comments didn’t happen in a vacuum, shortly after Bad Bunny’s halftime Show concluded on Sunday, February 8, President Donald Trump voiced harsh criticism of the performance on Truth Social. 

Trump called the show “absolutely terrible, one of the worst, EVER!” and said it didn’t represent American standards of success, creativity, or excellence. He further complained that “nobody understands a word this guy is saying,” and described the dancing as “disgusting,” especially for children watching across the US and the world.

Despite the controversy, official ratings showed that the rapper's performance drew an average of 128.2 million viewers, making it one of the most‑watched halftime shows, trailing only Kendrick Lamar’s 2025 record. 

During the same time, an alternative 'All‑American Halftime Show' from Turning Point USA headlined by Kid Rock drew about 5 million viewers. Bad Bunny drew criticism from Republicans and conservatives after his speech at the Grammys, following his win for Album of the Year.

He said, "Before I say thanks to God, I'm going to say ICE out," referring to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers. "We're not savages, we're not animals, we're not aliens – we're humans," Bad Bunny added from the stage after his win.