"When it was first revealed that Puerto Rican superstar Bad Bunny would be headlining the Super Bowl LX halftime show, it was immediately registered as a political choice. The singer and rapper-who captured hearts around the world last year with his smash hit sixth solo studio album Debí Tirar Más Fotos, sung entirely in Spanish-had been in the middle of a world tour. Controversially, Bad Bunny deliberately chose to bypass the 50 states of the U.S. in favor of international dates and a massive 31-show Puerto Rican residency, all for fear that ICE would target concertgoers. There was one exception to this: the Super Bowl, which Bad Bunny announced with a singular tweet: "I've been thinking about it these days, and after discussing it with my team, I think I'll do just one date in the United States.""
"Conservatives' anger was ugly and immediate. Donald Trump remarked that the NFL's choice in performer was "absolutely ridiculous," while Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem threatened that ICE agents would be "all over" the game, which was to be held in Santa Clara, California, a state that has one of the country's highest undocumented immigrant populations. (During game week, though, both the NFL and California governor Gavin Newsom revealed that they were assured ICE wouldn't have a presence at the game.)"
"Right-wing ire only grew after last week's Grammy Awards, when, against the backdrop of ICE's activity escalating in nearly every manner possible, Bad Bunny won three awards-including Best Música Urbana Album, Global Music Performance, and a historic Album of the Year-and said, "Before I say thanks to God, I'm going to say ICE out," continuing his speech with a now-viral statement: "We're not savage, we're not animals, we're not aliens. We are humans and we are Americans." True to form, Trump called the award show "virtually unwatchable.""
Bad Bunny accepted the Super Bowl LX halftime slot despite political implications and prior choices to avoid U.S. dates. The singer released Debí Tirar Más Fotos, toured internationally, and staged a 31-show Puerto Rican residency out of concern that ICE would target concertgoers. Conservatives reacted angrily, with Donald Trump criticizing the NFL and DHS Secretary Kristi Noem warning of ICE presence; the NFL and California officials later said ICE would not be at the game. Bad Bunny won three Grammys and used his acceptance remarks to condemn ICE and assert the humanity and American identity of affected people.
Read at Slate Magazine
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