The Super Bowl halftime show is supposed to be a unifying moment, a spectacle that brings millions together. But after Bad Bunny's performance at Super Bowl LX in Santa Clara, California, the only thing uniting some viewers was their outrage. The Federal Communications Commission received over 2,000 complaints, with three states—Texas, Florida, and California—filing the most.
Bad Bunny, handpicked by the NFL back in September 2025, delivered a 15-minute set inside Levi's Stadium in early February. While the artist and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell stood by the show, a vocal chunk of the audience was anything but impressed. One viewer described it as a “violent horror advertisement during family broadcast,” while another wrote, “There were children watching this. It was horrible and shocking that this would be allowed. Very indecent! This is not okay or normal.”
Goodell had anticipated some backlash. “He’s one of the most popular entertainers in the world,” Goodell told reporters before the game. “It’s carefully thought through. I’m not sure we’ve ever selected an artist where we didn’t have some blowback or criticism. We’re confident it’s going to be a great show. I think it’s going to be exciting and a united moment.”
But for many, the unity was shattered. The complaints poured in from across the country, but the Lone Star State led the pack with 226 filings. Florida followed with 182, and host state California logged 156. Texans, in particular, were vocal. One viewer from Houston wrote, “I, as I am sure millions of other Americans, feel the same that the halftime show lyrics, though not in English, were highly inappropriate for any viewing audience. It is as if, since it was said in a different language that it will fly, as a large majority of the viewing audience did not understand what was being said. This was magnitudes worse than the Timberlake/Janet Jackson show that ended up changing TV and radio since.”
The comparison to the 2004 Super Bowl incident is striking. That wardrobe malfunction led to a crackdown on broadcast indecency, and some critics feel Bad Bunny's performance could spark similar scrutiny. The complaints didn't stop at language barriers—one viewer wrote, “I can’t believe that was even allowed. Absolutely disgusting! I would NEVER allow my children to watch so much suggestive garbage. so much for an all American sport and entertainment. that was disgraceful, inappropriate and disgusting!!!! at least the 5 seconds i watched because i was so offended.”
The NFL has weathered halftime controversies before, but the volume of complaints—and the geographic concentration—suggests this isn't just background noise. Texas, Florida, and California are three of the most populous states, but their combined 564 complaints represent a significant chunk of the total. Whether the FCC takes action remains to be seen, but the numbers are hard to ignore.
Bad Bunny, for his part, hasn't publicly addressed the backlash, but his pride in the performance was evident. The show was a celebration of his culture and music, but for some viewers, it crossed a line. As the debate over what's appropriate for a family broadcast continues, one thing is clear: the halftime show is far from a united moment for everyone.
