STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Instagram users continue to slam former Staten Island City Councilmember Joseph Borelli despite his recent apology for using an offensive slur in a Super-Bowl related Instagram post on Sunday.
The comments appeared on an [Advance/SILive.com Instagram news post](https://www.silive.com/news/2026/02/former-staten-island-councilman-apologizes-for-slur-in-super-bowl-tweet.html) about Borelli, the former City Council minority leader who left his South Shore seat in January 2025. The current New York City School Board member used the word “r------d” in a post to X on Sunday.
“This was the most r------d thing to happen during the Bad Bunny show,’' Borelli said, referencing Michigan Democratic Congressmember Shri Thanedar’s post of two selfies in front of his TV screen with Bad Bunny performing in the background — not the Bad Bunny halftime show itself.
The “r” word, once used as a medical term, is now broadly recognized as a slur used to describe people with intellectual disabilities and is no longer acceptable in respectful language. It is still offensively used to describe a foolish move that makes no sense.
“It was wrong for a member of the school board to use that word. It just was. No excuses. I apologize,” Borelli said in a comment to the Advance/SILive.com on Tuesday.
Comments reflect disgust
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But Instagram users were having none of that, and the most recent comments reflect disgust, anger and sarcasm directed at Borelli and the Republican party.
Others expressed confusion over the prolonged dissension involving the Spanish-speaking performance at the Super Bowl and praised the halftime show as a celebration of culture.
The comments
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“Funny how I never use the R word on accident. It’s just that easy when you’re a decent human being,” said Instagram user mrsrenegade.
Another took aim at Staten Island Republicans: “Hold on ... let me put my surprise face on. Oh noooo can’t find it. A Staten Island republican said a slur soooo unlikely 🙄🙄🙄,’' said user b\_tale.
“Show his true colors,” said hiddengems\_mpr, while a user named suser top\_askin said: “He’s only apologized because he got caught slipping 🙄”
Staten Islanders took a hit from user manusanz986: “This kind of attitude is, unfortunately, something commonly \[see\] from some Staten Islanders and people from the South, showing clear discrimination.”
User axx.68 shared the sentiment with the posting: “Ofc he’s from Staten Island”.
Borelli didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment on Wednesday.
Why the fuss?
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A small number of commenters wanted to know what the fuss is all about, with a few questioning whether the word is even a slur. One joked that “restarted,’' isn’t really a slur at all.
They also questioned all the ugly debate surrounding the Super Bowl Halftime Show, featuring the Spanish-speaking entertainer from Puerto Rico, noting that people should be above caring at all.
“I can’t believe people were that mad about the halftime show being in Spanish. If the music sounds good what does it matter?” asked user tdonuts733.
“😂😂😂😂 Grown people having meltdowns over a 14 min halftime show 😂😂,’' posted user samifigz.
And mike160 said: “The halftime show was a celebration; of culture. You don’t have to be Puerto Rican or know Spanish to appreciate it. No one would ask Andre Bocelli to sing in English.”