The National Football League (NFL) has once again found itself in the midst of controversy, this time due to its decision to feature Puerto Rican rapper Bad Bunny as the headliner for the forthcoming Super Bowl halftime show.
The rapper, whose real name is Benito Antonio Martinez Ocasio, has previously made headlines for his anti-American sentiments and support for illegal immigration.
According to the Western Journal, Bad Bunny had previously announced that he would not include the United States in his world tour due to fears that his fans might be targeted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids. This statement insinuated that a significant portion of his fan base consists of illegal immigrants who have crossed the southern border.
Bad Bunny's track record of controversial stances is not limited to his views on immigration. He has also been a vocal supporter of the Black Lives Matter movement and endorsed Kamala Harris, the twice unsuccessful presidential candidate.
In a September 10 interview with i-D magazine, he stated, ICE could be outside [my concert]. And its something that we were talking about and very concerned about.
In June, the rapper also made derogatory comments about ICE agents, referring to them as sons of b****es who cant seem to leave the people alone. Despite his previous pledge to boycott the U.S., Bad Bunny has recently expressed his excitement to perform at the Super Bowl in California.
He also hinted at the possibility of performing one gig in the U.S., suggesting that his boycott was merely a performative gesture to appeal to left-wing sentiments.
The rapper's apparent hypocrisy has not gone unnoticed, with social media users criticizing him for his change of heart. One user wrote, lol you were worried and scared for your fans until the money talked.
Another user criticized the NFL for its divisive choice, stating, Roger Goodell and the @NFL just decided to make the Super Bowl political by picking Bad Bunny as the 2026 Super Bowl music act.
The NFL's decision to feature Bad Bunny as the Super Bowl headliner is indicative of the league's continued alignment with left-wing ideologies. The league has previously faced backlash for playing a separate black national anthem at select NFL games and allowing itself to be used as a platform for left-wing propaganda.
The NFL's continued political stance has been met with disapproval from fans who watch sports for entertainment, not to be subjected to ideological indoctrination. The league's support for the Black Lives Matter protests and anti-American demonstrations of the national anthem in 2020 resulted in a significant drop in TV viewership and game attendance.
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