PETITION TO REPLACE BAD BUNNY AT SUPER BOWL LX EARNS 30,000 SIGNATURES

A petition to replace Bad Bunny as the Super Bowl LX Halftime Show performer has drawn more than 30,000 signatures as criticism mounts over the Puerto Rican superstar's performance at Levi's Stadium.    

The NFL's announcement of his headlining set for the big game in Santa Clara on Feb. 8 ignited debate among fans and conservative figures alike - including President Donald Trump, who deemed the move "absolutely ridiculous." 

Now thousands are requesting Bad Bunny - booked by the NFL, Roc Nation, Jay-Z and the city of Santa Clara - be replaced by country artist George Strait. Often referred to as the "King of Country," the Grammy award-winning musician has been releasing music since the 1980s.  

"The Super Bowl halftime show should unite our country, honor American culture, and remain family-friendly, not be turned into a political stunt," the Change.org petition, launched on Oct. 1, reads. "Bad Bunny represents none of these values; his drag performances and style are the opposite of what families expect on football's biggest stage."

Virginia resident Kar Shell, who launched the petition on Oct. 1, went on to suggest that Strait is a better fit for the gig because he "embodies unity, tradition, and the timeless American music that truly deserves the 2026 Super Bowl spotlight."

By the evening of Thursday, Oct. 16, the petition had received 30,313 signatures. 

The online campaign is just the latest effort to deter the reggaeton artist, who, despite the discourse, seems unphased. 

He addressed the backlash directly during the opening monologue of his "Saturday Night Live" hosting stint earlier this month, telling critics "You have four months to learn" Spanish. 

The artist previously stated he purposely did not set any U.S. dates for his forthcoming Debí Tirar Más Fotos Tour out of fear that Immigration and Customs Enforcement would endanger his predominantly Latino and Hispanic fan base. 

Shortly after the Super Bowl announcement, ICE confirmed its agents would be onsite at Super Bowl LX.

"There is nowhere you can provide safe haven to people who are in this country illegally," Corey Lewandowski, Trump's former campaign manager said during an appearance on "The Benny Show." 

By contrast, Santa Clara Mayor Lisa Gillmor told the Chronicle that "we want to make sure that we protect everybody that comes to Santa Clara," emphasizing that "this is an inclusive event."

Many objections to Bad Bunny's performance, like Shell's, focus on his Puerto Rican heritage (despite the fact that it's a U.S. territory), his Spanish-language discography and his political positions on about immigration, LBGTQ+ rights and the current administration - views some have deemed "un-American." 

Many, including California Governor Gavin Newsom and Green Day drummer Tre Cool, have expressed excitement about Bad Bunny's performance. 

"California is excited to welcome you to Super Bowl LX," Newsom wrote on X in response to the musician's own post announcing the performance last month. 

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2025-10-17T01:33:32Z