Can Bad Bunny Speak English? Here's Why His Super Bowl LX Halftime Show is Exclusively in Spanish

Viewers of the historic Bad Bunny Super Bowl LX halftime show did not have to wait long to understand the tone of the performance. From his opening lines at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, it was clear the set would be delivered almost entirely in Spanish, though some fans were left hanging onto their seats, waiting for at least one English song to come up.

Across social media and television commentary, the question quickly followed: does Bad Bunny speak English at all, and if he does, why did he choose not to use it on one of the biggest broadcast platforms in the world?

The short answer is that he can speak English. The longer answer is that language, for Bad Bunny, has always been part of his artistic position rather than a technical limitation.

A Deliberate Choice on the NFL's Biggest Stage

During the Apple Music halftime show, Bad Bunny delivered a set dominated by Spanish-language tracks, even with English-speaking guests appearing alongside him. Lady Gaga performed a Latin remix of Die With a Smile, but Bad Bunny himself remained in Spanish throughout most of the performance.

His only clear English phrase arrived near the end of the set, during Café Con Ron, when he paused and said: 'God bless America.' He then moved into a roll call of Latin American countries, naming Mexico, Puerto Rico, Colombia, Venezuela, the Dominican Republic, Cuba and others, before ending with 'USA', 'Canada' and 'Puerto Rico'.

The sequence was widely discussed online and in the days that followed. Some viewers saw it as a political statement. Others interpreted it as a cultural affirmation. Either way, the language choice was central to how the show was received.

This was not an isolated decision. In the run-up to the Super Bowl, Bad Bunny had already addressed questions about language at a press conference, saying:

'English is not my first language. But it's okay, it's not America's first language either.'

What Bad Bunny Has Said About English in the Past

Bad Bunny, whose real name is Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, has consistently spoken about his preference for working in Spanish.

In a 2023 interview with Vanity Fair, he said he had no intention of switching languages for commercial reasons.

'I am never going to [sing in English] just because someone says I need to do it to reach a certain audience.'

In the same interview, he added that he does speak English in certain situations, but selectively. 'With some people, I speak English — with some specific people,' he said, explaining that he feels more comfortable expressing himself in Spanish.

He also addressed the controversy surrounding the 2023 Grammys, when his performance was labelled 'singing in non-English' on broadcast captions. He described the moment as 'so f—ed up' and said he had not realised it had happened at the time.

Bad Bunny has never positioned English as a goal or requirement in his career, instead, he has treated Spanish as the default language of his music, regardless of market expectations.

The Wider Reaction and Political Undertones

The Super Bowl performance arrived against a backdrop of political tension.

Conservative groups had criticised the NFL's choice of headliner in advance, and Turning Point USA organised alternative programming. After the show, former president Donald Trump described it as 'one of the worst ever' and criticised both the language and choreography.

The backlash extended beyond Trump. Influencer Jake Paul publicly attacked the performance, prompting his brother Logan Paul to defend Bad Bunny and emphasise that Puerto Ricans are American citizens.

At the same time, many viewers praised the set for its cultural focus and production values, arguing that language did not diminish the experience.

The NFL's own social media account shared a line from the performance in Spanish, reinforcing institutional support for the show's direction.

Why Spanish Remains Central to His Public Identity

Bad Bunny's halftime show came just days after he made history at the Grammys, becoming the first artist to win Album of the Year with a fully Spanish-language record, Debí Tirar Más Fotos. In his acceptance speech, he again referenced Puerto Rican identity and representation.

From an industry perspective, the decision to headline the Super Bowl in Spanish aligns with broader demographic shifts. Nearly 20 per cent of the US population identifies as Latino, and Spanish is the country's second-most spoken language.

Rather than adapting his performance to traditional expectations, Bad Bunny used the platform to reflect that reality. His limited use of English was not about exclusion. It reflected a consistent approach he has maintained for more than a decade.

He can speak English. He chooses, most of the time, not to perform in it.

At Super Bowl LX, that choice was placed in front of more than 100 million viewers. Whether audiences welcomed it or resisted it, the language of the show was not accidental. It was part of how Bad Bunny continues to define his place in American popular culture — on his own terms.