The announcement of the Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show turned into one of the most divisive moments in recent NFL history. Bad Bunny landed the gig for the February showcase in New Orleans, but the Grammy-winning artist has faced massive backlash over his criticism of ICE and the fact that he doesn’t perform in English.
Bad Bunny Sits During _God Bless America_ at New York Yankees Game
Bad Bunny Sits During _God Bless America_ at New York Yankees Game (Screenshot via x/@alfa2025_)
President Donald Trump said he’s never heard of the Puerto Rican superstar, while House Speaker Mike Johnson suggested Lee Greenwood would’ve been a better choice. The controversy just got another layer added to it.
Bad Bunny Sits During “God Bless America” at New York Yankees Game
Bad Bunny attended the New York Yankees’ 9-6 win over the Toronto Blue Jays on Tuesday night at Yankee Stadium. During the seventh inning stretch, fans stood and sang “God Bless America” as they always do at home games.
Photos obtained by TMZshow Benito sitting with friends while the rest of the section stood for the patriotic song.
🚨BREAKING: Bad Bunny reportedly spotted SITTING DOWN during the National Anthem at the Yankees game, per TMZ.
This is who is performing on the biggest stage in the country… The Super Bowl. pic.twitter.com/uJS2InLDgZ
— Jack (@jackunheard) October 8, 2025
The optics were rough for someone already under scrutiny after the Super Bowl Halftime announcement. The timing made it even more attention-grabbing, coming just weeks after Trump claimed not to know who Bad Bunny is during a Newsmax interview with Greg Kelly.
Sitting while everyone else stood only added fuel to the fire surrounding his upcoming performance.
The NFL’s biggest stage draws over 100 million viewers every year, and the Halftime Show is supposed to unite the country for 15 minutes of pure entertainment.
Bad Bunny’s choice to remain seated during a patriotic moment at a baseball game has fans questioning whether he’s the right fit for football’s most-watched event.
NFL Fans Unload on Bad Bunny Over His Yankees Game Behavior
The backlash hit immediately once the photos surfaced online. One fanwrote, “The stage is going to be smaller when none of us watch,” threatening to boycott the Super Bowl broadcast entirely.
Anotheradded, “Too bad Bad Bunny did not just leave during the National Anthem. Well, ICE will be at the Super Bowl, But will Bad Bunny perform at the Super Bowl, given that ICE will definitely be there?”
The criticism kept pouring in from multiple angles. A third fanasked sarcastically, “Were you expecting a good bunny?” while a fourth fannoted, “That’s the exact opposite of what a Good Bunny would do.”
The wordplay on his stage name became an instant talking point across social media platforms.
The controversy puts the NFL in an uncomfortable position. The league announced Bad Bunny as the Halftime performer to appeal to a massive Latin audience, but the move has divided fans along cultural and political lines.
His refusal to stand during “God Bless America” at a Yankees game gives critics more ammunition heading into February. Whether this affects his Super Bowl performance remains to be seen, but the talk definitely isn’t dying down anytime soon.
Bad Bunny is either going to win over doubters with an incredible show or cement himself as one of the most divisive Halftime performers in NFL history.