‘Literally no white people’: Real Housewives alum Jill Zarin and Taylor Armstrong slam Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl 2026 halftime show

Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl halftime performance at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, may have been packed with star power and cultural symbolism, but it didn’t land well with everyone, especially a few familiar reality TV faces who didn’t hold back online after the show aired on Sunday, February 8.




Former Real Housewives of New York City star Jill Zarin was among the loudest critics, posting a video (later deleted) calling the show “the worst halftime show ever.” Zarin said she found it inappropriate for kids watching, pointing to Bad Bunny repeatedly grabbing his groin during the performance. She also complained about not understanding the lyrics, saying she would have liked to know what was being said.

Zarin went further, suggesting the show looked like a political statement, claiming there were “literally no white people” featured and implying it could have been related to ICE issues. She insisted she wasn’t “taking a side,” but accused the NFL of “selling out.” She also mocked Lady Gaga’s appearance during her surprise moment, claiming she didn’t recognize her and had to Google her.




Real Housewives of Beverly Hills alum Taylor Armstrong also joined the backlash. She posted an Instagram Story using a meme-style image referencing Gladiator, writing that she was “embarrassed” for the NFL and Apple over the halftime show being “totally in Spanish” and featuring a Cuban flag. The post quickly gained attention online as viewers debated whether the criticism was about entertainment value or something deeper.




Bad Bunny’s halftime show was staged as a tribute to his Puerto Rican roots, featuring a sugarcane field-inspired setup a reference to Puerto Rico’s agricultural history before shifting into a porch-party style scene. Celebrities including Pedro Pascal, Jessica Alba, Cardi B, and Alix Earle were seen dancing during the segment. Lady Gaga appeared for a revamped performance of “Die With a Smile” with Bruno Mars, while Ricky Martin performed “LO QUE LE PASÓ A HAWAii.”


The backlash didn’t stop with reality stars. Donald Trump also criticized the performance on Truth Social, calling it “absolutely terrible” and objecting to the Spanish language and choreography. Rapper Chris Brown also posted a story suggesting the NFL “need[s] me.”