Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl halftime show sparks dueling petitions over ICE presence and his performance, gaining over 81,700 signatures nationwide.
The upcoming Super Bowl halftime show is turning into a cultural battleground — and at the center of it all is Bad Bunny.
The Puerto Rican superstar’s scheduled performance at Super Bowl LX in Santa Clara, California, on February 8 has sparked intense national debate, with two rival petitions together amassing more than 81,700 signatures.
On one side, a petition launched by the advocacy group MoveOn is demanding that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) stay out of Santa Clara during the event. The call came after Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem declared that ICE agents would be “all over the Super Bowl,” a statement that immediately drew backlash.
“This is completely unacceptable,” the petition reads. “We cannot let ICE terrorize our communities and our families at the largest single sporting event in the U.S.”
With more than 80,000 signatures so far, the petition accuses the Trump administration of cruelty and argues that the Super Bowl “should not be marked by Trump’s chaos, trauma, and detention.” Supporters also praised Bad Bunny for using his platform to stand up for Latino, immigrant, and LGBTQ+ communities, calling him “an artist who has been very outspoken about injustice.”
Santa Clara Mayor Lisa Gillmor echoed similar sentiments, saying the city is committed to inclusivity and ensuring the Super Bowl is “safe and welcoming for everyone.”
But not everyone is cheering for Bad Bunny.
A counter-petition, started by Virginia resident Kar Shell on Change.org, has already gathered over 108,458 signatures. The petition urges the NFL to replace Bad Bunny with country legend George Strait, arguing that the halftime show should “unite our country” and “honor American culture.”
“Bad Bunny represents none of these values,” Shell wrote. “His drag performances and style are the opposite of what families expect on football’s biggest stage.”
Conservative figures, including President Donald Trump, have criticized the NFL’s decision to feature the reggaeton star, questioning his connection to American traditions because of his Puerto Rican heritage (even though Puerto Rico is a U.S. territory) and his Spanish-language music.
The tension escalated after old interviews resurfaced where Bad Bunny expressed fear that ICE could endanger his fans if he toured in the U.S., fueling both sides of the argument.
Still, the NFL and Jay-Z’s Roc Nation, which co-produce the halftime show, have made it clear they’re standing by their choice.
Despite the controversy, it looks like Bad Bunny’s performance is moving forward — and with emotions running this high, Super Bowl LX might end up being one of the most politically charged halftime shows in history.
