The ongoing backlash about Bad Bunny performing at the Super Bowl 60 show has intensified, with reports suggesting that billionaire Elon Musk may withdraw a $40 million deal. However, many fans defended Tesla’s CEO on an X video, stating that he is merely stating the truth. One of them said:
Critics themselves are in question as anti-American, fake, or both! Elon Musk is not threatening; he is simply stating a fact shared by most regarding the NFL, its track record of poor decisions, and the supposed performer (?). Money doesn’t chase poor decisions or outcomes.”
Critics themselves are in question as anti-American or fakes or both! Elon Musk is not threatening; he is simply stating a fact shared by most regarding the NFL, its track record of poor decisions, and the supposed performer(?). Money doesn’t chase poor decisions or outcomes‼️ https://t.co/FlnzvF3z77
— Marco Campoy (@Siriusaboutu) October 12, 2025
Bad Bunny’s Halftime Show Decision Causes Debate
Bad Bunny Catches Heat from NFL Fans as Fabricated Elon Musk Posts Create Internet Chaos (Image credit: X/Bad Bunny Catches Heat from NFL Fans as Fabricated Elon Musk Posts Create Internet Chaos)
With the buildup to Super Bowl 60, the NFL’s choice of Bad Bunny as the halftime performer has caused a level of political furor greater than usual, as well as an equally strong wave of support. The pick has been publicly condemned by political figures such as the U.S. House speaker, Mike Johnson, who termed it a terrible decision and proposed alternative performers; former President Donald Trump stated that he could not comprehend the choice and called it crazy, which has contributed to a larger right-wing narrative that the NFL was making a political choice.
A series of social media posts and videos heightened the controversy, with some accounts falsely reporting that Elon Musk had directly threatened to withdraw a $40 million Super Bowl sponsorship if Bad Bunny played. Several fact-checks and other mainstream outlets did not find any verifiable public statement by Musk or his companies confirming that such a threat existed; the viral claim of an announcement of 40M seems to have spread as social posts and reposts, and not as an on-the-record announcement by Musk.
These opponents of Bad Bunny, including several music and cultural critics, claim the backlash lies in the culture and linguistic discrimination: Bad Bunny is an international sensation, a Puerto Rican singer who sings in Spanish most of the time and has an enormous streaming presence, and his choice is being seen by many as a step in the right direction regarding Latino representation on one of the biggest stages in the world. Noting the reaction, coverage by outlets follows that the discussion has entered into a bigger trend with halftime decisions amounting to lightning rods in the culture wars, and past artists likewise have been sucked into the political discourse.
In addition to the noise on social media, advertising and sponsorships generally consider the level of reaction from the population around marquee events. However, speculative reporting to date by the populace includes Instagram and X speculation and amplification, with no verified instances of corporate withdrawal directly related to the booking of Bad Bunny. The significant difference between viral and verified corporate primary information is the main focus of interpreting how the story can evolve as the Super Bowl approaches.
Elon Musk has threatened to pull his $40 million Super Bowl sponsorship if Bad Bunny, announced as the 2026 halftime performer, goes on. Musk and conservative critics oppose Bad Bunny’s comments about fearing ICE raids at his concerts, calling them anti-American. The NFL faces… pic.twitter.com/OKHJDkrhIj
— Girl patriot (@Girlpatriot1974) October 11, 2025
The situation is further exacerbated by Tesla CEO Elon Musk’s decision not to endorse the show. To that many fans comes up with a lot of skepticism:
One fanstated, “I applaud Elon Musk for taking the high road. It’s unfortunate that the NFL has gone woke and hired a nasty performer to embarrass our country, sports, and more than half of our citizens.”
Anotherfan applauded Musk’s decision and said, “Wow, Elon Musk stands up for what he believes in, over and over again. It’s going to take action like this for us to get change.”
Another chimed, “This is not true even though I wish it were.”
Onefanagreed with Elon and stated, “Let’s go, Elon. Squash, the Bad Bunny halftime performance.”
The Bad Bunny-Super Bowl saga has already surpassed the typical announcement of entertainment and become an object of cultural politics: critics have interpreted the selection as a sign of misplaced priorities, whereas fans rejoice in the exposure it provides to Latin music and Spanish-language performance.
To date, much of the overheated conversation is based on social posts rather than proven corporate action. How this will evolve will depend on the reaction taken by the NFL, advertisers, and leading personalities over the next few weeks. No matter the result, the scandal has made the halftime show one of the most highly watched and discussed parts of Super Bowl 60.