Unhealthy Bunny clapped again on the backlash to his upcoming Tremendous Bowl LX Halftime Present efficiency throughout an look on Saturday Night time Dwell.
The ‘DTMF' rapper, 31, wasted no time in addressing the controversy whereas internet hosting the season 51 premiere of the NBC sketch present on Saturday, October 4. (Doja Cat was the musical visitor on the SNL season premiere.)
He joked that he was simply internet hosting — reasonably than performing as musical visitor too — as a result of he was nonetheless “drained” from his 31-date No Me Quiero Ir de Aquí residency in San Juan, Puerto Rico, over the summer time.
“Chances are you'll not know this however I'm doing the Tremendous Bowl Halftime Present,” he introduced to large cheers from the Studio 8H viewers. “I'm very completely happy and I believe everybody may be very completely happy about it! Even Fox Information…”
SNL then confirmed a montage of reports protection essential of his Tremendous Bowl spot, although it was edited to say: “Unhealthy Bunny is my favourite musician and he ought to be the following president.”
“Actually, I'm very excited to be doing the Tremendous Bowl and I do know individuals all all over the world who love my music are additionally completely happy,” he advised viewers again in Studio 8H.
After briefly talking in Spanish, Unhealthy Bunny quipped: “In case you didn't perceive now what I simply stated, you've got 4 months to study!”
The monologue featured a visitor look from Jon Hamm, after Unhealthy Bunny confirmed footage of the previous Mad Males actor dancing throughout considered one of his residency live shows.
‘The Nationwide Soccer League introduced on Sunday, September 28, that Unhealthy Bunny (actual title Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio) would headline the Tremendous Bowl LX Halftime Present in 2026, after he'd beforehand carried out with Jennifer Lopez and Shakira on the occasion in 2020.
Unhealthy Bunny on ‘Saturday Night time Dwell' season 51 premiere X/NBC
“What I'm feeling goes past myself,” Unhealthy Bunny stated in a press release. “It's for many who got here earlier than me and ran numerous yards so I might are available and rating a landing … that is for my individuals, my tradition and our historical past. Ve y dile a tu abuela, que seremos el HALFTIME SHOW DEL SUPER BOWL.”
The NFL confronted a swift backlash from many conservative politicians and public figures for reserving Unhealthy Bunny due to his current criticism of the Trump administration's controversial immigration crackdown. Others objected as a result of his music is primarily within the Spanish language.
Former skilled race automotive driver Danica Patrick complained through X on Monday, September 29, that performing “no songs in English shouldn't be allowed at considered one of America's highest rated tv occasions of the 12 months,” earlier than later calling for an alternate halftime present to be carried out in English.
“I don't have any downside with somebody acting at halftime that isn't from the USA, though Unhealthy Bunny is technically a citizen as a result of he was born in Puerto Rico,” Patrick, 43, stated on the “Battle Room” podcast. “He wasn't essentially born in America. I don't care the place you're truly born. What I care about is that I can sing alongside to the music. His music is nearly nothing in English.”
She went on, “I don't suppose will probably be as a lot enjoyable. I don't suppose will probably be as uniting. What I might hate to see is that it might divide us once more, in one more approach.”
Former NFL star and “Bussin' With the Boys” podcast host Taylor Lewan additionally shared his opposition to Unhealthy Bunny because the NFL's decide throughout an look on Up & Adams on Tuesday, September 30 — and steered one other megastar ought to have gotten the Halftime Present job.
“It ought to have been Taylor Swift,” Lewan, 34, insisted. “She has been integrating on this world of soccer. She's been meshing two utterly completely different cultures into each other.”
When Unhealthy Bunny invited Belinda on stage throughout his Puerto Rico residency, followers weren't certain in the event that they have been witnessing only a live performance — or the start of a narrative that felt destined to occur. It wasn't a easy improvised duet. It was the assembly of two artists whose connection had began years earlier, when Benito […]
The controversy reached a fever pitch on Friday, October 3, when Homeland Safety Secretary and former South Dakota governor Kristi Noem promised to ship U.S. Immigration and Customized Enforcement (ICE) brokers to the Tremendous Bowl.
“There will likely be ICE enforcement on the Tremendous Bowl. There will likely be, as a result of the Division of Homeland Safety is liable for conserving it secure, so I've the accountability for ensuring all people who goes to the Tremendous Bowl has the chance to take pleasure in it and to depart, and that's what America is about,” Noem, 53, advised right-wing podcast host Benny Johnson.
She then warned, “We'll be throughout that place … We're going to implement the legislation. So I believe individuals shouldn't be coming to the Tremendous Bowl except they're law-abiding Individuals who love this nation.”
Tremendous Bowl LX will air February 8, 2026, on NBC from Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California. Saturday Night time Dwell's subsequent new episode airs October 11 on NBC at 11:30p.m ET with host Amy Poehler and musical visitor Position Mannequin.
