English-speaking NFL fans can still ‘vibe with’ Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl show despite the language barrier, says his good friend J Balvin.
Bad Bunny, real name Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, is finally set to perform the halftime show in Santa Clara on Sunday, five months after his unveiling as the musical act for Super Bowl LX sparked uproar.
Given that virtually all of his songs are in Spanish – as well as his frequent criticism of Donald Trump’s immigration policies – the NFL’s decision to select the Puerto Rican rapper has left thousands of Americans furious.
Yet according to Colombian singer J Balvin, who is being tipped to appear as a surprise guest during the show, fans do not need to understand the lyrics to enjoy Benito’s music.
‘I learned and grew up listening to hip-hop,’ he told TMZ when quizzed about concerns over Bad Bunny’s performance. ‘I didn’t know what they were saying. I would just vibe with it.’
‘They just gotta jump on the flavor, that’s all they gotta do,’ Balvin added. ‘That’s followers.’
J Balvin insists English-speaking NFL fans can still ‘vibe with’ Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl show
Bad Bunny is finally set to perform the Super Bowl LX halftime show in Santa Clara on Sunday
When asked which Bad Bunny song he’s most looking forward to hearing at Levi’a Stadium, he said: ‘All of them! That’s my man.’
Bad Bunny will take to the stage at the halftime interval as the Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots battle it out for Super Bowl glory.
It remains to be seen whether Trump, who led the backlash against him from MAGA-leaning NFL fans and conservative commentators, is there to see it live in Santa Clara, although one of his aides recently suggested he will not be after being warned that the California won’t welcome him kindly.
The NFL’s decision to select Bad Bunny has also angered football legends, with Hall of Fame running back Eric Dickerson doubling down on his recent criticism of the choice.
Dickerson, 65, claimed he would rather see anyone else perform the halftime show over Benito following the controversial unveiling in September,
And just days out from Super Bowl LX he stressed: ‘Why can’t we get somebody from right here, from home? How about someone from right here in San Francisco? All these artists right here in the area to play at the Super Bowl.
‘I don’t see why they chose that,’ he added. ‘But the NFL does things that just baffle your mind, so.’
He went on to question how a Spanish-language show would connect with a wider national audience.
Donald Trump has led the backlash against the Puerto Rican rapper over the past five months
On Sunday, Bad Bunny doubled down on his criticisms of Trump’s ICE in his Grammy speech
Dickerson also fired back when told that Puerto Rico is American, stressing that it was a ‘territory’ of the United States and that Puerto Ricans don’t have the right to vote.
Bad Bunny has previously spoken out against the Trump administration and cited ICE agents as a reason why he did not include any mainland US dates for his tour – before once again calling out the federal law enforcement group at the 2026 Grammys.
Days out from his contentious performance, he admitted he is struggling to sleep in the build-up to it.
‘I’ve been working on this show, what we’re gonna do next Sunday, it’s a lot,’ the 31-year-old said earlier this week. ‘Thinking about the Super Bowl at 4am, that’s what I’ve been doing. It’s been hard to not.
‘I’m happy but I’m just processing, taking one day at a time. I just try to take it easy. Wake up, work out, drink my coffee, try not to think too much about it.
‘Last night I couldn’t sleep, I was thinking about it. I want to think it’s 13 minutes of doing what I love, what I like. I know I’m gonna have fun.’
