Worst Halftime Show Ever: Why Critics, Including Trump, Are Calling Out Bad Bunny's Super Bowl Performance

For some viewers, it was bold, historic and long overdue.

For others, it was confusing, frustrating — and, in their words, the 'worst Super Bowl ever.'

When Bad Bunny took over the Super Bowl LX halftime stage, reaction was immediate and sharply divided. Within minutes, social media filled with complaints, praise, memes and political commentary, as fans and critics argued over what they had just watched.

Much of the backlash centred on one point: the performance was delivered entirely in Spanish.

Reports say some viewers said they struggled to follow the set and branded it 'the worst of this century.' One post complained about 'not understanding a word,' while another described the show as 'weird,' despite appreciating Latin culture.

Others were more direct. 'Worst halftime show EVER!!' one viewer wrote.

And yet, the strength of the reaction said as much about audience expectations as it did about the performance itself.

A Performance Far from Plating Safe

Bad Bunny's decision to perform entirely in Spanish was no surprise to long-time fans. He has repeatedly said he has no interest in altering his language or identity to appeal to wider audiences.

In a 2023 interview with Vanity Fair, he said he would never sing in English 'just because someone says I need to.'

His Super Bowl set followed that principle closely.

The show leaned heavily into Puerto Rican imagery, Latin American culture and Spanish-language hits from across his catalogue. He was joined by high-profile guests including Ricky Martin and Lady Gaga, reinforcing its international tone.

Visually, it was ambitious. There were sugarcane fields, dense choreography, and layered staging. Supporters argued that even without understanding the lyrics, the scale and energy were hard to ignore.

'I don't speak Spanish and I loved it,' one viewer wrote on X.

Another said: 'He seized his opportunity and crushed it.'

What stood out, though, was how little the performance seemed interested in softening itself for anyone.

'Together We Are America' — and the Politics Beneath It

Language was only part of the story. Threaded through the set were clear social and political messages. During the performance, Bad Bunny displayed slogans including 'Together we are America' and 'The only thing more powerful than hate is love.'

He also listed countries across North and South America, broadening the meaning of 'God bless America' to include the wider continent.

CNN later reported on the symbolism behind the moment, noting how he stood alongside both the US and Puerto Rican flags.

The message followed his recent Grammy speech, where he criticised immigration raids and declared: 'ICE out... We are humans and we are Americans.'

Trump's Response and the Backlash Cycle

One of the loudest critics was President Donald Trump.

Posting on Truth Social, he described the performance as 'one of the worst, EVER' and 'a slap in the face' to America, adding: 'Nobody understands a word this guy is saying... the dancing is disgusting.'

Trump had previously criticised Bad Bunny's selection and said he had 'never heard of him' when the headliner was announced.

His reaction, predictable to some, intensified the online divide.

Supporters and opponents of the former president quickly turned the performance into a wider cultural argument — about language, identity, and who the Super Bowl is 'for.'

The NFL's own account took a different approach, sharing a line from the show: 'Lo único más poderoso que el odio, es el amor,' and that contrast did not go unnoticed.

Clearly, not everyone accepted the claim that this was the 'worst halftime show ever.'

Sports outlet The Spun pointed out that fans have long ranked the Black Eyed Peas' 2011 performance as the weakest modern-era show.

In that context, some of the more dramatic reactions looked less like careful assessments and more like emotional responses in the heat of the moment.

There is also the commercial reality. Halftime performers are not paid standard fees. The NFL covers production costs, while artists benefit from exposure. Past examples underline the value of that platform. Rihanna's streams surged after 2023. Jennifer Lopez gained millions of followers in 2020.

Bad Bunny, already one of the world's most-streamed artists, is unlikely to suffer long-term damage from one polarising night. If anything, the attention may prove useful.

Universal Failure or Unquestioned Success?

The singer brought language, identity, migration politics and Latin American culture to the most-watched sporting event in the United States. For some viewers, that felt refreshing. For others, it felt alienating. Roughly 40 million people in the US speak Spanish. Supporters argue that the show reflected that reality. Critics say the Super Bowl should prioritise universal accessibility.

Those positions continue to clash. And probably will for some time.

Judging by the reaction, Bad Bunny's set was neither a universal failure nor an unquestioned success. It challenged expectations. It unsettled parts of the audience. It generated political noise. It dominated headlines.

Less discussed is the fact that very few halftime shows manage all of that at once.

Whether viewers saw a misstep or a milestone likely says more about what they wanted from the night than about what was delivered.

For better or worse — and mostly for debate — Bad Bunny's Super Bowl performance now sits among the most talked-about halftime shows in recent memory. Not because it played to the room.

But because it didn't.