Bad Bunny mocked his critics – including Fox News – over the controversial decision to let him perform the Super Bowl halftime show.
The Puerto Rican rapper, singer, and international best-selling artist was recently confirmed for Super Bowl LX in California in February.
That is despite a backlash from Donald Trump supporters after Bad Bunny cited ICE agents as a reason he did not include any mainland US dates for his upcoming tour. ‘It’s so shameful they picked someone who seems to hate America,’ Donald Trump ally Corey Lewandowski said.
The rapper – who was born Benito Antonio Martinez – was the host of ‘Saturday Night Live’ and during his opening monologue, he addressed his haters.
‘You might not know this but I’m doing the Super Bowl halftime show and I’m very happy and I think everyone is happy about it – even Fox News,’ Bad Bunny said.
A edited clip then played, stitching together the comments of various Fox anchors and pundits so that it said: ‘Bad Bunny is my favorite musician and he should be the next president.’
He continued: ‘Thank you. Wow, thank you. But really, I am very excited to be doing the Super Bowl and I know that people all around the world who love my music are also happy.’
The rapper than spoke in Spanish for several seconds before finishing his monologue by saying: ‘If you did not understand what I just said… you have four months to learn!’
In the Spanish portion of his monologue, Bad Bunny took another shot at his critics. ‘Especially all of the Latinos and Latinas in the world here in the United States who have worked to open doors,’ he said.
‘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.’
Bad Bunny previously appeared as a guest in Miami during the halftime show at Super Bowl LIV – which was headlined by Latin performers Shakira and Jennifer Lopez.
He sings in Spanish and has been critical of Donald Trump’s immigration policies. Bad Bunny recently admitted he refused to tour in the US over concerns that his fans would be targeted by ICE.
In his single ‘NUEVAYoL’, released over the summer, a voice sounding similar to the president’s is heard issuing an apology to ‘immigrants in America’.
After being unveiled as the halftime act, Bad Bunny sent a message to the Latino community that echoed his comments on SNL.
‘What I’m feeling goes beyond myself,’ he said. ‘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,’ he said.
Trump advisor Corey Lewandowski confirmed that ICE agents will be patrolling San Francisco during the Super Bowl.
‘It’s so shameful they picked someone who seems to hate America,’ Lewandowski said.
‘There is nowhere you can provide safe haven to people who are in this country illegally. Not the Super Bowl and no where else. We will find and deport you. That is a very real situation.’
