The Puerto Rican musician, whose real name is Benito Ocasio, confirmed the exciting news in a statement, which read: “What I’m feeling goes beyond myself. It’s for those who came before me and ran countless yards so I could come in and score a touchdown… this is for my people, my culture, and our history. Ve y dile a tu abuela, que seremos el HALFTIME SHOW DEL SUPER BOWL.”
However, not everybody seems to be on board with the news, with some social media users throwing shade at Benito by suggesting that playing the Super Bowl makes him somewhat of a hypocrite. Let me explain.
Back in May, Benito’s North American fans were left disappointed when it was revealed that his upcoming Debí Tirar Más Fotos tour did not include any US dates, with the star previously telling Variety that performing in the states was “unnecessary.” Earlier this month, Benito confirmed that he actually decided to skip the US as he feared for the safety of his Latinx fans at a time when ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) arrests and deportations are rampant across the country.
“But there was the issue of, like, fucking ICE could be outside [my concert],” he went on. “And it’s something that we were talking about and very concerned about.”
And Benito alluded to this stance when teasing his Super Bowl announcement earlier on Sunday, when he said: “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.” However, the nuance of the situation has been lost on many, with several viral tweets popping up on social media to criticize Benito for headlining the Super Bowl despite “protesting” ICE.
But others have been quick to point out that this is not the case at all, and that Benito didn’t want to perform in the US because his concerts would likely be targeted by ICE due to his predominantly Latinx fanbase, while the Super Bowl’s stadium audience would be a totally different demographic. It has also been noted that the Super Bowl halftime show being performed predominantly in Spanish would be a poignant political statement at this difficult time in America, which makes Benito’s booking even more meaningful.
Let me know your thoughts on Bad Bunny at the Super Bowl in the comments below!