FCC Clears Bad Bunny's Super Bowl Halftime Show of Decency Violations
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has concluded that Bad Bunny's Super Bowl LX halftime show performance did not violate federal decency regulations. This determination followed an initial review prompted by complaints and calls for investigation from Republican lawmakers and conservative commentators regarding the Spanish-language performance and its lyrical content. Despite the criticisms, the performance garnered high viewership and was the first Super Bowl halftime show headlined by a Latin solo act performing entirely in Spanish.
FCC Review and Findings
The FCC initiated a review after receiving complaints concerning potentially profane lyrics in Bad Bunny's Super Bowl LX halftime show.
Commissioner Anna Gomez specifically reviewed Spanish-language transcripts and reported finding "no violation of our rules and no justification for harassing broadcasters over a standard live performance."
According to reports, the FCC found that songs performed by Bad Bunny—including 'Tití Me Preguntó,' 'Monaco,' and 'Safaera'—had been edited to remove lyrics that typically contained references to sex acts and genitalia. This practice was noted as consistent with revisions made for previous halftime shows, such as Kendrick Lamar's performance at Super Bowl LIX. The FCC's review is currently considered closed, pending the emergence of any additional evidence.
The Halftime Performance
Bad Bunny's Super Bowl LX halftime show marked a significant cultural moment. It was the first time a Super Bowl halftime performance was conducted entirely in Spanish, and he became the first Latin solo artist to headline the event.
During the performance, a ball bearing the words "Together, we are America" was presented, and a message on the big screen read: "The only thing more powerful than hate is love."
The show was broadcast live to 128.2 million viewers and accumulated billions of views across various platforms, ranking as the fourth most-watched halftime show in history. Domestically and internationally, the performance generally received positive reviews.
Reactions and Criticisms
The performance drew criticism from several Republican politicians and conservative commentators, primarily focusing on the Spanish-language content and perceived indecency.
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Megyn Kelly, a former Fox News host, stated that performing the entire show in Spanish constituted "a middle finger to the rest of America." She argued that the Super Bowl should be a unifying national event and expressed opposition to a "Black national anthem" and a "Spanish-speaking non-English performer" as prime-time entertainment. Morgan challenged Kelly's premise by noting that the United States does not have an official language.
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Donald Trump, former President, initially deemed Bad Bunny's selection "ridiculous." During the game, he posted on Truth Social, describing the halftime show as "absolutely terrible," an "affront to the Greatness of America," and alleging it lacked "standards of Success, Creativity, or Excellence." He also stated, "Nobody understands a word this guy is saying, and the dancing is disgusting, especially for young children."
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Late-night hosts Jon Stewart and Jimmy Kimmel discussed conservative reactions to the performance, with both criticizing the outrage from certain pundits and politicians regarding the show's language and perceived lack of national unity.
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Piers Morgan initiated a discussion questioning whether the "MAGA movement" was exhibiting behaviors akin to "wokeness" in response to the show, asking if they were becoming "thin-skinned," "sneering," or "censorious."
Congressional Calls for Investigation
Multiple Republican lawmakers formally requested investigations into the performance:
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Representative Randy Fine (R-Fla.) described the performance as "illegal" and called for an FCC investigation, stating that if the lyrics were in English, the broadcast would have faced significant fines. Fine also indicated plans to send a letter to the FCC demanding "dramatic action, including fines and broadcast license reviews, against the NFL, NBC, and ‘Bad Bunny.’"
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Representative Andy Ogles (R-Tenn.) sent a letter to the House Committee on Energy Commissions, requesting a formal inquiry into the NFL and NBCUniversal. Ogles cited concerns over their "prior knowledge, review, and approval of indecent content," describing the performance as "smut" and alleging it contained "explicit displays of gay sexual acts, women gyrating provocatively, and Bad Bunny shamelessly grabbing his crotch while dry-humping the air." He further stated the performance's lyrics "openly glorified sodomy and countless other unspeakable depravities" and claimed it depicted "gay pornography," adding that the performance was "conclusive proof that Puerto Rico should never be a state."
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Representative Mark Alford (R-Mo.) commented that while he does not speak fluent Spanish, the reported lyrics were "very disturbing." He suggested the event "could be much worse than the Janet Jackson wardrobe malfunction."
Alternative Halftime Show
Following the criticism from former President Trump, Turning Point USA organized an alternative halftime show featuring Kid Rock. This event garnered 6 million viewers on YouTube, significantly less than Bad Bunny's Super Bowl viewership. Kid Rock performed his song “Bawitdaba,” which includes references to “topless dancers,” “hookers,” meth, and porn.
History of Halftime Show Complaints
Complaints to the FCC regarding Super Bowl halftime show performances have occurred annually. Past instances include:
- 2022 (Kendrick Lamar): Drew 125 complaints, citing "vulgarity" and accusations of glorifying "gang" affiliations.
- 2023 (Rihanna): Received FCC complaints, including claims that "twerking should rank up there with the F bomb."
- 2016 (Beyoncé): Resulted in FCC messages comparing her appearance to "white people wearing KKK attire."
- 2020 (Shakira and Jennifer Lopez, with Bad Bunny cameo): Generated over 1,300 complaints.