While sharing their views about celebrities engaging in politics, two USC professors discussed the abstruse nature of Bad Bunny’s decision to headline the 2026 Super Bowl halftime show.
The Latin trap and reggaeton artist announced on Sept. 28 that he will headline the 2026 Super Bowl halftime show. This news came as a shock to many because the musician cancelled the U.S. leg of his “DeB TiRAR MáS FOToS” tour in early September due to concerns of raids by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) potentially targeting his fans attending the shows.
In the past, Bad Bunny has expressed his disapproval of the Trump administration’s immigration policies. In a now-deleted Instagram post from June, Bad Bunny said ICE agents weren’t “leaving [the] people working [in Puerto Rico] alone.”
The discourse regarding ordinarily apolitical celebrities investing themselves in the political landscape is divided by both government and public opinion. Some praise public figures for mobilizing their fans while others critique them for straying from their traditional line of work.
Namely, rock artist Bruce Springsteen spoke out against the Trump administration with critiques against what he perceives as authoritarianism and its “corrupt, incompetent and treasonous” leadership. President Trump responded on social media, insulting his political opinions and music, while many of those who attended his Manchester, England concert applauded his advocacy in the moment.
USC professor of the practice of political science and international relations Steve Swerdlow said music “[plays] a particularly important role in the face of oppression, because it allows us to say, often, what is uncomfortable, what is awkward, what is strange and what is different; it’s incredibly honest.”
Swerdlow drew a connection between music and another artistic method of performance frequently criticized for interjections into politics: comedy.
On Sept. 17, nightly talk show host Jimmy Kimmel was suspended after commenting on the fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. The parent company of his ABC program, Disney, decided upon his hiatus when Federal Communications Commission (FCC) chairman Brendan Carr argued that Kimmel’s broadcast TV license compelled him to serve public interest, which, in the words of Disney, his “ill-timed” and “insensitive” comments defied.
Kimmel’s talk show, “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” was ultimately reinstated on Sept. 23, yet the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) questioned the ramifications of the precedent established by what they believe to be a form of coerced censorship.
“Last week, Jimmy Kimmel was taken off the air after the government threatened a private company with retaliation, marking a dark moment for freedom of speech in our nation. In an attempt to silence its critics, our government has resorted to threatening the livelihoods of journalists, talk show hosts, artists, creatives, and entertainers across the board. This runs counter to the values our nation was built upon, and our Constitution guarantees,” said the ACLU, with signatures of support from 475 artists.
Specifically, the organization found that Kimmel’s free expression was directly countered when the FCC recommended his suspension. Similarly, when Bad Bunny initially announced his abstinence from touring in the mainland U.S., Assistant Department of Homeland Security Secretary Tricia McLaughlin accused the musician of “fearmongering” and “demonizing” immigration officials, in a written statement sent to NPR.
So, even with the potential risk of “cancel culture” by the entertainment industry that has demonstrated a recent trend of adhering to government requests, considering the timely termination of Stephen Colbert before Kimmel’s suspension, Bad Bunny’s advocacy may be perceived as valuable to some of the general public.
USC professor of communication management Bobby Borg, said that although he feels “cancel culture” is less prevalent today within the general social landscape than it was a few years ago, there is still pressure for people to be “extremely careful” about what they say. This is especially true for celebrities like Bad Bunny and Kimmel, who risk deterring their fan bases.
Borg explained that some people may be skeptical of Bad Bunny’s intentions now that he is set to headline the Super Bowl. He points out the “inconsistency” of Bad Bunny’s brand to claim he is concerned for his fans’ safety while committing to an event that also poses a potential immigration raid risk. Bad Bunny may reveal where his true priorities lie if his decision is simply rooted in the fact that “It’s a great opportunity for him,” to headline the halftime show, Borg said.
In contrast, Swerdlow suggested that the artist may intend to “use his fame” in a strategic way.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if [Bad Bunny] was using that platform to respond to the millions of Americans who are not happy with what they see, with ICE, with immigration policy and with the general demonization of immigrants,” Swerdlow said.
Swerdlow believes that it may not always be obligatory for public figures to project their political opinions, but that the responsibility concomitant with fame, “at the very least,” is to not “enable human rights abuses.” This could explain why Bad Bunny chose to diverge from performing in the sovereign jurisdictions of the U.S., the states, during his tour, but has now agreed to perform during the Super Bowl halftime show — the extent of his responsibility as a political advocate may be circumstantial.
Borg cautioned that if a celebrity’s brand isn’t established as political, sometimes speaking out may come across as “inauthentic” and do more harm than good. In his expertise, he finds that the right for comedy to offend and the privilege public figures have to express their opinions freely is not absolute.
Although the change in approach to state-side U.S. performances may perplex some, Swerdlow personally remains that it’s “really important” for Bad Bunny to habitually use his platform as an artist to comment on the political sphere, as he “wields an incredible amount of influence.”