The NFL is in the middle of a full-blown public relations storm as backlash mounts against the league’s choice of Bad Bunny for the upcoming Super Bowl halftime show. The Puerto Rican superstar’s performance, heavily associated with LGBT themes, has sparked outrage among large groups of fans who are now threatening to boycott the event altogether.
Social media has been ablaze with criticism, with hashtags like #BoycottSuperBowl and #FireBadBunny trending nationwide. Thousands of fans argue that the halftime show should feature a “real American artist” who represents traditional values, rather than what they call “controversial cultural messaging.”
The outrage is not limited to the stands. Reports have surfaced that several NFL players are considering skipping the game entirely if the league does not reconsider its decision. While no official confirmations have been made, insiders suggest that locker room tensions are running high as the Super Bowl looms closer.
In a surprising twist, San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy joined the chorus of critics, delivering one of the strongest public rebukes yet. “The NFL is about football, not politics,” Purdy said in a fiery statement. “We shouldn’t let off-field agendas take the spotlight away from the game and the athletes who worked their whole lives to get here.” His remarks have polarized fans, with some praising him as a voice of reason and others accusing him of intolerance.
NFL executives now find themselves trapped between competing pressures: maintain their original plan and risk losing fans, or replace Bad Bunny and appear to bow to public outrage. Either decision carries enormous implications for the league’s reputation, ratings, and sponsorship deals.
As America’s biggest sporting event draws near, one thing is clear: instead of building anticipation, the Super Bowl halftime show has ignited one of the most divisive cultural battles in NFL history.