Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and his wife Casey have joined the chorus of conservatives upset over Bad Bunny’s inclusion in next February’s Super Bowl halftime show.
Born Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio in the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico, the rapper, singer and record producer has helped to popularize Latin music across the country while selling over 100 million albums worldwide.
Despite his overwhelming popularity, Bad Bunny has faced criticism from Republicans since Jay-Z’s Roc Nation chose him for the Super Bowl LX halftime show. Some have attacked Bad Bunny for singing in Spanish, while others have focused on his past attacks against President Donald Trump.
DeSantis, a former Trump critic with more than 4.3 million Spanish-speaking constituents, did voice any specific objection to Bad Bunny. Rather, he simply requested his favorite band get a chance to play halftime of the Super Bowl.
‘I’m still hoping that, someday, the NFL will have Metallica headline the halftime show,’ DeSantis wrote on X.
Not to be outdone, Ron’s wife Casey responded with a question: ‘Not trying to start anything here, but honestly… who exactly is Bad Bunny?’
Bad Bunny has sold more than 100 million albums worldwide, but none to Casey DeSantis
Puerto Rican rapper, singer and record producer Bad Bunny (pictured) has helped to popularize Latin music across the United States while selling over 100 million albums worldwide
Ron and Casey DeSantis risked the wrath of Bad Bunny fans by questioning his selection
But unlike her husband, Casey did not voice any other suggestions for the Super Bowl halftime show.
DeSantis and his wife are hardly the only conservatives moaning about Bad Bunny’s second Super Bowl performance (He previously performed at the Super Bowl LIV halftime show headlined by Shakira and Jennifer Lopez).
‘The Super Bowl is the most highly-watched show that we have on television the whole year. 127 million people are estimated to watch it. It’s the crown jewel on television and sports in particular, so it’s where we come together as a country,’ ex-NASCAR driver Danica Patrick told former White House strategist Steve Bannon on his ‘War Room’ podcast.
‘We enjoy it, we have parties, we love watching the halftime performance and we love to sing along to that halftime performance. It’s usually one of those that’s very versatile across so many different age ranges and people watching.
‘I don’t have any problem with someone performing at halftime that is not from the United States – although Bad Bunny is technically a citizen because he was born in Puerto Rico – I don’t care where you’re actually born. What I care about is that I can sing along to the music, and his music is almost nothing in English.
‘I don’t think it will be as much fun, I don’t think it will be as uniting, and I would hate to see that it would divide us again in yet another way where 127 million people normally come together to watch it.’
Patrick, who campaigned for Trump last year, fears the rapper will cause divisions in the US
Bad Bunny performing the Super Bowl halftime show will divide America, says Danica Patrick
Patrick also predicted that Bad Bunny’s performance may lead to counter shows during the Super Bowl halftime break for those who don’t want to watch him.
‘It’s probably going to be tempting, even for me, because I like to watch a great performance and I like to sing along,’ she added.
Bad Bunny has celebrated his selection as the Super Bowl halftime act by calling it a victory for ‘my people, my culture, and our history.’
‘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.’
In his recent single ‘NUEVAYoL’, released over the summer, a voice sounding suspiciously similar to the President’s is also heard issuing an apology to ‘immigrants in America.’
