Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl LX halftime performance drew a record 4.157 billion views within 24 hours globally, making it the most-watched in NFL history. The show, which was mostly rendered in Spanish with rich Puerto Rican cultural references and surprise guest appearances, has generated widespread acclaim and recognition worldwide. However, alongside this widespread acceptance has been massive criticism and political backlash.
For one NBA analyst, the backlash against Bad Bunny’s appearance is uncalled for. The analyst argued that, considering his global influence, Bad Bunny’s choice was only rational for the NFL. Here’s more about his take.
NFL Analyst Defends Bad Bunny’s Record-setting Super Bowl Halftime Show
Bad Bunny performs at halftime of Super Bowl LX
Feb 8, 2026; Santa Clara, CA, USA; Recording artist Bad Bunny performs at halftime of Super Bowl LX between the New England Patriots and the Seattle Seahawks at Levi’s Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl LX halftime performance at Levi’s Stadium reached 4.157 billion views within 24 hours across broadcast, YouTube, and social platforms, according to data from Roc Nation and Apple Music. This surpassed all prior NFL halftime shows, including outings by icons like Michael Jackson and U2. Incidentally, Bad Bunny ended 2025 affirming his global acceptability.
His record-breaking viewership matches with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell’s push to expand the league’s global reach. Following the performance, outlets such as Billboard, Entertainment Weekly, and The Guardian praised the show for its energy, attention to detail, inspirational tone, and message of unity.
However, critics flagged the Spanish-only format as divisive, sparking political backlash. The backlash, however, doesn’t sit well with many analysts.
"[Bad Bunny] is one of the most influential artists in the world and it was awesome for the NFL to appeal to a global market… The hate was dumb"
– @carebearkieran sounds off about Bad Bunny breaking the Super Bowl Halftime performance record with 4.2 billion global views pic.twitter.com/RKFJjwJCEh
— Speakeasy (@speakeasytlkshw) March 4, 2026
According to a social media release, Kieran, an NFL analyst, defends Bad Bunny’s selection, saying:
“[Bad Bunny] is one of the most influential artists in the world and it was awesome for the NFL to appeal to a global market… The hate was dumb”– @carebearkieran
Fortunately for the NFL’s globalization agenda, Bad Bunny was intentional enough to name multiple nations in the Americas as dancers waved the national flags of multiple countries. The show closed with him spiking a football marked ‘Together, we are America,’ emphasizing a much-needed call for unity. Hopefully, Bad Bunny’s record viewership can influence naysayers, while the NFL takes lessons from it ahead of subsequent halftime shows.