An unnamed AFC offensive player told The Athletic he doesn\u2019t like Bad Bunny as the Super Bowl halftime performer because \u201cI think there are better examples of character and morality than Bad Bunny.\u201d<\/p>\n
That\u2019s quite the stance from an anonymous player who\u2019s part of a league that\u2019s spent decades covering up, downplaying, and failing to properly address sexual assault allegations, domestic violence arrests, and a litany of other serious criminal behavior from its players.<\/p>\n
The Athletic\u2019s anonymous player survey<\/a>, released Monday, found 58.6% of players supported Bad Bunny as the halftime performer, while 41.4% did not. Beyond the character comment, the primary complaints were not knowing who Bad Bunny is and a preference for \u201csomeone who\u2019s synonymous with football and football culture.\u201d<\/p>\n Bad Bunny won Album of the Year at the Grammys<\/a> on Sunday night, the first entirely Spanish-language album to win the honor. He was Spotify\u2019s most-streamed artist in 2025<\/a> with nearly 20 billion streams. He\u2019s performed at a Super Bowl halftime show before, appearing alongside Jennifer Lopez and Shakira in 2020. The NFL selected him because he helps achieve a stated business objective: growing the league\u2019s international and Latino audience.<\/p>\n What exactly are the character concerns with Bad Bunny? That he\u2019s openly supported immigrants and criticized ICE? That he sings primarily in Spanish? That he\u2019s from Puerto Rico, a U.S. territory (therefore, making him an American)? The Athletic article doesn\u2019t specify what this player finds objectionable about Bad Bunny\u2019s character, which makes the comment ring even more hollow.<\/p>\n If it\u2019s about Bad Bunny\u2019s recent comments at the Grammys, calling for ICE to be disbanded and saying \u201cwe\u2019re not savages, we\u2019re not animals, we\u2019re not aliens, we [are] humans, and we are Americans,\u201d then just say that. If it\u2019s something else, say that.<\/p>\n Bad Bunny says \u201cICE OUT\u201d at the #Grammys<\/a> and receives a massive standing ovation:<\/p>\n \u201cWe are not savage, we are not animals, we are not aliens, we are humans and we are Americans. The hate gets more powerful with more hate. The only thing that is more powerful than hate is love.\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/IFzvguqdCR<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Variety (@Variety) February 2, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n But if we want to operate under the assumption that this survey was taken before Sunday\u2019s Grammys \u2014 which it probably was \u2014 it\u2019s not like this is a new position for Bad Bunny, who didn\u2019t include the United States in his most recent concert tour<\/a> over fears that ICE could target some of his fans.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, Turning Point USA is hosting its \u201cAll-American Halftime Show\u201d as counter-programming<\/a>, which finally announced its lineup this weekend<\/a> after months of secrecy. The unnamed AFC offensive player, who presumably doesn\u2019t play for the Patriots, can watch that instead if Bad Bunny\u2019s character bothers him so much.<\/p>\n The NFL stood by Bad Bunny despite concerns from at least one owner that the selection could threaten the league\u2019s ESPN equity dea<\/a>l because he\u2019s the right performer for this moment. He\u2019s a global superstar who appeals to an audience the NFL is trying to reach. The league isn\u2019t picking halftime performers based on some moral litmus test \u2014 and given the NFL\u2019s history, it\u2019d be laughable if they tried.<\/p>\n Evaluating Super Bowl halftime performers on \u201ccharacter and morality\u201d is absurd in the first place. These are entertainment spectacles designed to keep viewers engaged during a break in the game. The selection criteria should be: Is this person a massive star who will put on a compelling show? Bad Bunny checks that box.<\/p>\n Bad Bunny will perform for 150 million people, give or take. The TPUSA halftime show will be streaming<\/a> if this player needs a morally acceptable alternative.<\/p>\n \t