Big Game, Big Bunny

Image Courtesy: Billboard

Super Bowl 2025 halftime performance headliner, Kendrick Lamar, once said, “revolution ‘bout to be televised, you picked the right time but the wrong guy,” and with the announcement of Bad Bunny (Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio) as the Super Bowl 2026 headliner, maybe the right guy has finally been revealed. 

As the King of Latin Trap and a proud Puerto Rican man, Baddy Bunny may be another “controversial” performer. Many conservatives, including President Trump, disliked Lamar’s performance, which made insinuating remarks about the racial inequality being faced by minorities in the U.S. Ocasio recently stunned American fans by announcing that on his recent tour, he will not perform in the US out of fear for his Latin fans due to the rising tensions regarding ICE raids throughout the country. 

Alongside the possible political connotations of this future performance, Bad Bunny will also be making history as the first Super Bowl performer to perform in Spanish. With Spanish being the second most spoken language in the U.S., it's about time someone performs in Spanish at an event that embodies and celebrates the American dream. 

Celebrities throughout the country have celebrated and cheered on Ocasio in his announcement, such as Jennifer Lopez, Bruno Mars, Shakira, and Jelly Roll. 

As Latin people face constant fear over raids and questioning of their citizenship status, the future grows dim with over 1,000 detainees missing from the ICE containment center known as “Alligator Alcatraz.” Perhaps Bad Bunny and his message can bring back hope and raise awareness for the cruelty currently faced by Latin people in our country. 

Strike Out,

Katherine Fivgas

Editor: Meghan Bosman

Athens