A Florida congressman is calling for federal action following Bad Bunny’s halftime show during Super Bowl 60, which aired on NBC and its affiliates across the country.
U.S. Rep. Randy Fine posted on social media that he is alerting the chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, accusing the Grammy winning artist of airing what he described as inappropriate content during the live broadcast.
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Fine wrote that the performance was “illegal” and said he is urging the FCC to review the broadcast, including potential fines against the NFL, NBC and the artist.
Bad Bunny, whose real name is Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, headlined the Apple Music Super Bowl LX Halftime Show on February 8. The performance marked a milestone, making him the first Latino solo artist to lead the halftime stage.
A cultural showcase on a global stage
The show centered on Puerto Rican culture and was performed entirely in Spanish. It featured nods to his album “DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS,” a live wedding moment on stage, and an appearance by fellow Puerto Rican artist Ricky Martin.
During the set, Bad Bunny performed portions of songs including “LO QUE LE PASÓ A HAWAii,” which draws comparisons between Hawaii and Puerto Rico’s histories. One lyric often cited from the song reads in Spanish, “Lo que le pasó a Hawái también puede pasar aquí,” which translates to “What happened to Hawaii can also happen here.” The line has been widely interpreted as commentary on colonialism and cultural identity.
He also included music from his recent projects, fresh off another Grammy win earlier this year.
Claims over explicit lyrics
Fine’s criticism focused on lyrics he says contained explicit language. In his social media posts, he shared translated lines from various Bad Bunny songs and argued that if those words had been said in English during a live broadcast, there would have been major penalties.
Multiple outlets reviewing the performance reported that while some songs in Bad Bunny’s catalog contain explicit language, portions of the lyrics cited online were either not performed during the halftime show or were altered, shortened, or muted during the live broadcast. In several moments, words were cut off or partially mumbled.
The halftime show ran roughly 13 minutes.
Political reaction spreads
Fine was later joined by other conservative voices online, including Donald Trump Jr., who also posted criticisms about the lyrics and questioned media coverage describing the performance as family friendly.
The FCC has not publicly announced any enforcement action related to the broadcast.
The halftime show, like previous years, blended music, choreography and cultural themes in front of one of the largest television audiences of the year. The debate now centers on whether any content crossed regulatory lines, or whether the criticism stems from political disagreement over language and cultural expression.
The NFL and NBC have not issued public statements responding to Fine’s call for action as of this writing.