NBC chose to rerun Bad Bunny's October SNL episode where he addressed his 2026 Super Bowl halftime selection after facing criticism over his Spanish-language performances
22:01 ET, 22 Nov 2025
Bad Bunny
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Bad Bunny hosted the Season 51 premiere of SNL(Image: AP)
Saturday Night Live isn't broadcasting a fresh episode this evening, but has opted to replay an installment that tackles a trending topic at the intersection of entertainment and politics.
The NBC late-night comedy program is showing its Season 51 premiere featuring Bad Bunny as host and Doja Cat as musical guest. The decision to feature Bad Bunny could be seen as a daring choice.
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The episode originally aired on October 4 - just one week after Bad Bunny was announced as the 2026 Super Bowl halftime performer. Roc Nation, the entertainment company responsible for selecting the NFL halftime act, encountered criticism from conservative America for picking the Puerto Rican artist because the majority of his songs are in Spanish.
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Additionally, he decided against touring America due to concerns about becoming a target for ICE officials.
It appears NBC stands by its decision to feature Bad Bunny, whose real name is Benito Antonio MartÃnez Ocasio, on SNL as the broadcaster has chosen to rebroadcast the episode where he discusses his Super Bowl performance during his opening remarks, reports the Mirror US.
Bad Bunny
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Bad Bunny was chosen to be the Super Bowl performer for 2026(Image: AP)
Referencing the Super Bowl announcement, he said, "I'm very happy, and I think everyone is happy about it, even Fox News."
The program then showed edited clips from the news channel, which said, "Bad Bunny is my favorite musician. He should be the next president."
He then continued his monologue in Spanish, saying, "Especially all the Latinos and Latinas in the whole world, and here in the United States, all the people who have worked to open doors. More than an achievement for me, it's a milestone for all of us, demonstrating that our footprints and our contribution in this country, no one can ever remove nor erase.
"And if you didn't understand what I just said, you have four months to learn," he joked.
Bad Bunny
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Bad Bunny addressed being the 2026 Super Bowl performer during his SNL monologue(Image: Getty Images)
Supporters of the Make America Great Again movement have voiced their strong disapproval of Benito being selected as the Super Bowl Halftime performer. Turning Point USA, the organization founded by the late Charlie Kirk, has even launched an alternate "All American" halftime show.
The organization conducted a poll asking fans what type of music they would prefer to hear, with one of the options being "anything in English."
In addition, conservative figure Tomi Lahren responded to Bad Bunny being announced as the Super Bowl performer by insisting that Bad Bunny is not an American - despite being from Puerto Rico, a territory of the United States.
U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem gave a speech in the Coast Guard locker room.
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U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem addressed Bad Bunny being the 2026 Super Bowl performer(Image: 2025 Getty Images)
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However, many Super Bowl performers have not been US citizens - including Rihanna, Shakira, Paul McCartney, and The Rolling Stones.
Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem also commented on the news, stating that ICE will be "all over" the Super Bowl and warning immigrants to "stay away."