Governor Gavin Newsom has officially declared Sunday as “Bad Bunny Day” in the Golden State, coinciding with the Puerto Rican superstar’s halftime performance at Super Bowl LX in Santa Clara.
The declaration, made in a social media post mimicking former President Donald Trump’s distinctive all-caps style, has added another layer to the increasingly political nature of this year’s halftime show.
“As many people know, I am a tremendous lover of ‘The Spanish,'” Newsom’s official press office posted on Saturday. “I am also a huge fan of Puerrrrrrrto Rico. That is why I am declaring tomorrow in California as ‘Bad Bunny Day’ when Bad Bunny performs at the big game in the Golden State.”
The governor, widely expected to run for president in 2028, praised Bad Bunny’s “soothing, beautiful voice” and “very nice looks,” adding that the Grammy-winning artist is “nearly as ‘hot’ as me, which is a big compliment, because there is nobody ‘hotter.'”
Newsom also took aim at Kid Rock, who is headlining a rival halftime show organized by Charlie Kirk’s conservative group Turning Point USA. “Kid Rock is banned from California. And now he is being banned in more places,” Newsom’s office wrote in a separate post, referencing recent cancellations of Kid Rock’s “Rock the Country” festival after multiple artists pulled out. “Terrible music. Why is he so angry?” (Kid Rock is not actually banned from performing in California.)
The NFL’s selection of Bad Bunny has drawn criticism from some MAGA supporters because he performs in Spanish and has been outspoken about immigration rights. At the recent Grammy Awards, where he became the first Spanish-language artist to win Album of the Year, Bad Bunny made a powerful statement: “ICE out! We’re not savage, we’re not animals, we’re not aliens, we are humans, and we are Americans.”
President Trump previously called Bad Bunny’s selection as halftime performer “ridiculous” and claimed, “I’ve never heard of him.” In response, Turning Point USA organized “The All-American Halftime Show” featuring Kid Rock, which will be livestreamed during the official halftime show.
Bad Bunny, who was the most-streamed artist globally on Spotify in 2025, has described his upcoming performance as “a huge party” that will showcase his culture. The Super Bowl LX matchup between the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots kicks off at 3:30 p.m. PT at Levi’s Stadium.
Recent Comments