‘I don’t even know who Bad Bunny is’: NFL player says Super Bowl headliner ‘should be American’

SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA: As Super Bowl LX approaches, a significant cultural rift has emerged among NFL players regarding the selection of Bad Bunny for the Apple Music Halftime Show.

While Bad Bunny prepares for a historic performance at Levi's Stadium, an anonymous NFC player claimed that the headliner "should always be an American," unaware that the artist is, in fact, a US citizen. 

NFC player calls Bad Bunny ‘international’ choice

An anonymous NFC offensive player who spoke to The Athletic criticized the NFL’s choice, saying, "I don't even know who Bad Bunny is. I always think it should be an American. I think they're trying too hard with this international stuff."

The comment caused a stir because Bad Bunny was born in Puerto Rico, which is a US territory. As a result, he has held American citizenship since birth, making the player’s “international” complaint factually incorrect.

NFL players want halftime acts tied to football

Beyond the citizenship mix-up, some people in the league feel the music does not fit the vibe of the sport.

These critics believe the halftime show should “feel more tied to football culture,” and one player said there are “tons of artists out there who are fans of the game” who could have been picked instead.

A survey showed that about 41.4% of players are unhappy with the choice, mostly because they are unfamiliar with his music or would prefer a more traditional act.

Bad Bunny uses Grammy spotlight to blast ICE

Bad Bunny is heading to the Super Bowl after a major win at the 2026 Grammy Awards, where his album 'Debí Tirar Más Fotos' won Album of the Year.

During his speech, he made a bold political statement against US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). He told the crowd, “Before I say thanks to God, I’m going to say ICE out.” He then spoke about treating immigrants with dignity, saying, “We’re not savage, we’re not animals, we’re not aliens. We are humans and we are Americans.”

Bad Bunny also used his platform to address negativity in the world, admitting that “we get contaminados (contaminated)” by anger.

He urged the audience to stay positive, reminding them that “the hate gets more powerful with more hate” and that “the only thing that is more powerful than hate is love.”

It may be noted that Bad Bunny’s outspokenness against ICE is neither surprising nor new. He has repeatedly criticized ICE operations, including sharing social media footage he claimed showed agents harassing people in Puerto Rico.