Bad Bunny video sitting through ‘God Bless America’ fuels backlash amid his Super Bowl halftime gig boycott calls: 'Disrespectful'

Bad Bunny is on the brink of making history as the headliner of the Super Bowl LX halftime show, set to take place during today’s New England Patriots vs. Seattle Seahawks matchup. However, even before stepping onto the world’s biggest stage, the Puerto Rican superstar has found himself at the centre of a fresh controversy.

As excitement around his Super Bowl performance builds, social media has erupted over a viral video that appears to show Bad Bunny sitting during “God Bless America.” The clip has fueled intense backlash online, with many accusing the rapper of being disrespectful toward the patriotic song and, by extension, the United States itself. Some users have gone as far as labelling him a “disrespectful punk,” calling for accountability from the NFL.

However, claims that the video was filmed during today’s Super Bowl are false.

The widely shared clip actually dates back to a 2025 New York Yankees baseball game, not the NFL’s championship event. In the video, most of the crowd can be seen standing during “God Bless America,” while Bad Bunny remains seated, wearing a red shirt. You can check out the video, which has amassed millions of views across X, below:

The viral clip has triggered a wave of heated reactions online, with several users expressing outrage and calling for a boycott of the Super Bowl broadcast altogether.

One commenter wrote, “Show America, the NFL, and the world how strong our love is for this country. I will not be watching the game. I stopped watching when players kneeled—even though I’m a huge football fan and played for years. I had to make a stand. I’ll be watching the Turning Point USA halftime show instead.”

Another user questioned the NFL’s decision to feature Bad Bunny at the event, writing, “If he can’t stand for ‘God Bless America,’ why is he performing at the Super Bowl halftime show? I hope he’s booed off the stage. Let’s do it, America.”

Others accused the artist of deliberately courting controversy. “He’s enjoying it. He knows the camera could be on him and loves the attention,” one post read, adding, “I’m crossing my fingers that Americans turn the TV off.” Another commenter declared, “No NFL for me ever again. I only wish Right Side Broadcasting was doing the show instead of TPUSA.”

However, not all reactions have been negative. Several users pointed out that “God Bless America” is not the national anthem and that there is no requirement to stand during its performance. While many people choose to stand as a sign of respect, others emphasized that doing so remains a personal choice. One user summarized this view bluntly, writing, “Forced patriotism is fascism.”

Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl LX halftime performance has turned into one of the most politically charged halftime shows in years because it isn’t just about the music. It’s about identity, language, and politics on one of America’s biggest stages.

Critics, particularly from conservative circles, have seized on several factors: he primarily performs in Spanish, a rare choice for an event traditionally dominated by English-language pop, which some opponents have framed as a challenge to “American culture”; he’s been openly critical of U.S. immigration enforcement and made statements like “ICE out!” that aligned him with immigrant-rights sentiment, drawing ire from figures who view that as anti-government or unpatriotic; and he even declined to include U.S. tour dates in 2025 over concerns about ICE presence at shows.