It’s hard to judge from where I’m sitting, but it feels like the MAGA backlash to Bad Bunny is sort of a cultural turning point, right? These people have all of the power they could ever want, they’ve got masked ICE thugs invading American cities and assaulting citizens and immigrants alike, they’re destroying the American economy and global economy, and they’re still f–king mad. They’re mad that they can’t stomp their little baby feet and force the NFL to hire someone else for the Super Bowl Halftime Show. I think the NFL’s defiance is a huge part of this too – the NFL was supposed to “belong” to MAGA, right? And the NFL is just shrugging at the MAGA hissy fit. Well, now Speaker Mike Johnson has chimed in on Bad Bunny.
House Speaker Mike Johnson has weighed in on the political debate over Bad Bunny being booked to play the 2026 Super Bowl halftime show, saying it was “a terrible decision” — echoing the beliefs of President Donald J. Trump, who already established his own antipathy toward Bad Bunny.
Asked about the controversy outside House chambers, Johnson admitted that the globally popular artist who just hosted “Saturday Night Live” over the weekend was not really on his radar, but said he knew it was a bad call anyway.
“I didn’t even know who Bad Bunny was. But it sounds like a terrible decision, in my view, from what I’m hearing,” Johnson said. Asked why, the speaker noted, “It sounds like he’s not someone who appeals to a broader audience… And there are so many eyes on the Super Bowl — a lot of young, impressionable children. And, in my view, you would have Lee Greenwood, or role models, doing that. Not somebody like this.”
Johnson did not mention, as some other Bad Bunny detractors have, that a bone of contention for some conservatives is that the Puerto Rican artist sings exclusively in Spanish. The singer also took flak from the right for recently saying that, following a record-breaking residency in Puerto Rico, he would not be bringing his tour to the continental United States any time soon because of the possibility that it would draw ICE raids on his crowds. That fear was all but confirmed when Trump administration officials said ICE would be at the Super Bowl in force, in response to Bad Bunny getting star billing.
“It sounds like he’s not someone who appeals to a broader audience” – Bad Bunny is one of the biggest artists in global music. He’s sold over 115 million albums, he’s broken all kinds of streaming records and his music is popular across the English-speaking and Spanish-speaking communities in North America, South America, Europe and beyond. If anything, Bad Bunny is more popular and more of a “consensus choice” for the Halftime show than pretty much anyone else they’ve chosen in three decades. It’s not even like these people can’t say it outloud, even if Speaker Johnson pulls his punches – they’re mad because Bad Bunny speaks Spanish and he’s from Puerto Rico. That’s it. That’s all it is.
Photos courtesy of Avalon Red, Backgrid, Cover Images.
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- United States Representative Mike Johnson Republican of Louisiana walks out of a meeting with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in the Capitol on Wednesday, October 25, 2023, just one day after he was elected Speaker of the House. Copyright: xAnnabellexGordonx/,Image: 817065816, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: imago is entitled to issue a simple usage license at the time of provision. Personality and trademark rights as well as copyright laws regarding art-works shown must be observed. Commercial use at your own risk., Model Release: no, Credit line: IMAGO/Annabelle Gordon / CNP /MediaPunch / Avalon
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- New York, NEW – Celebrities attend the 2023 Costume Institute Benefit celebrating “Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty” at Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. Pictured: Bad Bunny BACKGRID USA 1 MAY 2023 USA: +1 310 798 9111 / usasales@backgrid.com UK: +44 208 344 2007 / uksales@backgrid.com *UK Clients – Pictures Containing Children Please Pixelate Face Prior To Publication*
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- Miami, FL – Bad Bunny performed an electrifying performance during his Most Wanted Tour at the Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida. Pictured: Bad Bunny BACKGRID USA 24 MAY 2024 BYLINE MUST READ: MediaPunch / BACKGRID USA: +1 310 798 9111 / usasales@backgrid.com UK: +44 208 344 2007 / uksales@backgrid.com *UK Clients – Pictures Containing Children Please Pixelate Face Prior To Publication*
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- Miami, FL – Bad Bunny performed an electrifying performance during his Most Wanted Tour at the Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida. Pictured: Bad Bunny BACKGRID USA 24 MAY 2024 BYLINE MUST READ: MediaPunch / BACKGRID USA: +1 310 798 9111 / usasales@backgrid.com UK: +44 208 344 2007 / uksales@backgrid.com *UK Clients – Pictures Containing Children Please Pixelate Face Prior To Publication*
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- New York, NY – Bad Bunny is seen leaving Madison Square Garden in New York City, drawing attention after a stylish night out. Pictured: Bad Bunny BACKGRID USA 12 MAY 2025 USA: +1 310 798 9111 / usasales@backgrid.com UK: +44 208 344 2007 / uksales@backgrid.com *UK Clients – Pictures Containing Children Please Pixelate Face Prior To Publication*
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- Celebrities Attend The Gekko Grand Opening Featuring: Bad Bunny Where: Miami, Florida, United States When: 10 Aug 2022 Credit: Seth Browarnik/startraksphoto.com/Cover Images
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- United States Representative Mike Johnson (Republican of Louisiana) gives a press conference following being elected Speaker of the House on the House Steps in the Capitol on Wednesday, October 25, 2023. The party first nominated United States House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (Republican of Louisiana), who dropped out shortly after winning the nomination due to lack of support. United States Representative Jim Jordan (Republican of Ohio) won the second nomination, however, was unable to get 217 votes on the House Floor after multiple rounds of voting. Majority Whip United States Representative Tom Emmer (Republican of Minnesota) was the third nominee, but dropped out just hours after he was elected. Kevin McCarthy (Republican of California) was recently ousted from the Speakership. Featuring: United States Representative Mike Johnson (Republican of Louisiana) Where: Washington, District of Columbia, United States When: 25 Oct 2023 Credit: Annabelle Gordon/CNP/startraksphoto.com
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- United States Representative Mike Johnson (Republican of Louisiana) is elected Speaker of the House in the House Chamber in the Capitol on Wednesday, October 25, 2023. The party first nominated United States House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (Republican of Louisiana), who dropped out shortly after winning the nomination due to lack of support. United States Representative Jim Jordan (Republican of Ohio) won the second nomination, however, was unable to get 217 votes on the House Floor after multiple rounds of voting. Majority Whip United States Representative Tom Emmer (Republican of Minnesota) was the third nominee, but dropped out just hours after he was elected. Kevin McCarthy (Republican of California) was recently ousted from the Speakership. Featuring: United States Representative Mike Johnson (Republican of Louisiana) Where: Washington, District of Columbia, United States When: 25 Oct 2023 Credit: Annabelle Gordon/CNP/startraksphoto.com
Whooo the heeeeckkers is Lee Greenwood? I’m laughing so hard.
Like: oh we need one of the BIG GUYS. You know.. like…
crickets. literal crickets.
Literally had to google him and still don’t know who he is other than an 82 yo country music mostly has-been who‘s only sort of today‘s relevance stems from him singing at orange‘s inauguration? Crickets indeed!
I figured it would be someone weird and antiquated but what the hell?? This is so funny, Mike Johnson is such a creepy ridiculous closeted loser
He sings that song that goes something like “cuz I’m proud to be an American where at least I know I’m free” To which I say really? Are we still free? Cuz that’s up for debate so maybe smarmy Johnson shouldn’t endorse that choice.
He wrote a really BAD July 4 anthem that has to do with being a patriot or something. So, I guess he would just sing that over and over for 45 minutes?
A greasy country music oldster is every young kid’s role model ! /s
I’m sure Pat Boone is available.
Guess what Mr. Mike “Elf on the Shelf” Johnson? PR is part of the US. Get the fuck over it.
I’m not trying to be snarky but….is he still alive? I thought he had died years ago.
exactly
Same
Me too.
He’s almost 83. He would make quite the exciting halftime show (sarcasm).
Uh no, Mike, just no. He and Satan Miller are two of the creepiest little weirdos on the planet.
Lee Greenwood???!!! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!! The delusion is strong in this one. Sir, the 80’s/90’s are over, like Lee Greenwood.
I work across the street from the ” dump” Wendy lives in. It’s a high end building that only serves those with BUCKS. Half the building is residential, the other half is Snr. Living.
They are also mad because Bad Bunny has worn dresses on occasion
Lee Greenwood is 82, not a Betty White/Jane Fonda shape 82, and definitely not a Mick Jagger shape 82, and he’s on his 4th wife. Not sure what kind of role model that is. He has ONE song and it’s awful. He doesn’t appeal to anyone I know.
Jane Fonda/Mick Jagger still relevant and likely always will be.
Lee Greenwood … who?! Never heard of him.
Bitch, I had to google who Lee Greenwood was. That dude is 82 years old! If that is his cultural reference, no wonder he’s so out of touch.
Shit, if you wanted a country artist, there are FAR better, modern choices that would have the stamina to put on a halftime show.
I think ultimately what MAGA is mad about is that even though they have taken over most aspects of government to shove their political agendas and ideology down Americans throats, they don’t have any cultural cache or popularity. They’re even pissing off their own supporters at this point.
They practically screaming “Why don’t you worship us and everything we stand for!!!!???”
I hate that they think American culture is just “Americuhhhh! F–ck yeah!” American culture is interwoven from many many different cultures. They want it to be mayonnaise, Budweiser and humping the flag. How boring and stupid.
Mayonnaise is Spanish so not even that.
We’ll go with Cheez-Wiz, then.
Lee who, now? The NFL is a business. It doesn’t need the impressionable little children, they don’t have $$ to spend on beer and trucks, and do they watch football anyway? They want to expand into Europe; hiring an international – nay, THE international – star makes sense.
I’m surprised he didn’t suggest kid rock or ted nugent. Oh wait nugent is having some issues with the dear leader. Nevermind.
At least he didn’t suggest a montage of Charlie Kirk appearances, complete with the crying widow, keeping his shit legacy alive.
Even if we get pyro technics like it’s the widow in white’s tacky ass wedding day extravaganza?
The Speaker insinuates that Bad Bunny is a bad influence, because he’s from Puerto Rico? Because he speaks Spanish?
These white nationist need to go.
I hate that stupid song. When I was a kid, they played it EVERY DAY over the intercom during Desert Storm. They are also trying to put the 10 Commandments in the public schools (currently in the court system). Is it any wonder I am from the same place as this d-bag? Also, the NFL doesn’t choose the performers. They have a deal with Roc Nation to produce the show. Don’t give the NFL credit for making some sort of “statement” because they’re not.
I had to look up Lee Greenwood because I sincerely thought he was dead. (He did that song, Proud to Be an American.) As someone mentioned above, he’s 82 and not like a Jane Fonda or Mick Jagger 82. I don’t know how good of a halftime show it would be if Lee did it, but it would probably be memorable in a bad way.
And now you know more about Lee Greenwood than Mike Johnson does.
I wish someone asked him to name a second Lee Greenwood song, if he’s such a fan.
MAGA doesn’t seem to get the Superbowl is an international event. The Halftime show will probably be one of the highest rated. It’s also laughable that they all keep mentioning hasbeens as replacements.
From Wikipedia:
“Greenwood did not serve in the United States military, despite there being a universal draft at the time. He has said that he was given a 3A deferment for family hardship due to becoming a father at 17.”
And he’s been married five times. The most recent bride is 25 years younger. What a role model !
First….who the F is Lee Greenwood???
Second…here’s a short list of performers who’ve done the SB halftime, weren’t born in the US, and don’t have the US citizenship:
1. Rihanna
2. Shakira
3. Paul McCartney
4. The Rolling Stones
5. U2
6. Shania Twain
7. Sting
8. Coldplay
9. The Weeknd
10. Phil Collins
Feel free to share that list to anyone who is troubled by Bad Bunny.
These people are nuts but this Bad Bunny business illustrates one of the main reasons MAGA is MAGA. Even though white people still by and large control most of the wealth in this country and run the government….they are culturally irrelevant; moreso now than ever. That’s why they are trying to force the majority of the country to bend to their will. They are trying to impose what they think their culture is on the rest of us. It’s not enough that no one is stopping them from living how they want to live; want to be a trad wife? Good for you. Want to have 10 kids? Good for you. Don’t want your kids reading certain books? No one is stopping you. But that’s not enough, they want to force their views on other people. MOST people don’t want that.
What’s Lee Greenwood gonna do, sing “God Bless The USA” ten times?
GTFOH 😂
Lee Greenwood is one of those artists who sells “greatest hits and more” albums.
The greatest hit being singular, and “the more” being garbage tracks.
You don’t like one hit wonders?
Lee Greenwood’s one big song came out in 1984, when Reagan was president and the Cold War was still a thing. Simple patriotic jingles were a sure fire thing.
And he was so dedicated to his message that USA is the best that he made a copycat of his own song called God Bless You Canada where the lyrics are THE same except for minor tweaks (naming locations, saying Canada instead of USA).
While the NFL didn’t choose Bad Bunny, the sentiment is there with the current direction they’re going in. Nothing political btw. The NFL is trying to become a global thing, teams play regular season games (not exhibition games, these games count in their stats) in other countries including UK, Germany, Mexico and Brazil, preseason games in other countries as well. The NFL doesn’t care what Bad Bunny says, as long as he says it in Spanish and brings his Spanish speaking outside the US fans with him.