How did Bad Bunny respond to Super Bowl 2026 halftime backlash during his ‘SNL’ monologue? Here’s everything we know

When Bad Bunny stepped onto the Saturday Night Live stage on Oct. 4 to host the season premiere, the first few words that he uttered immediately went viral on the internet. As the newly announced Super Bowl halftime act for the 2026 event, he faced scathing criticism from critics especially those who insulted him about his use of Spanish, his culture, and his politics. But instead of backing down, he turned a criticism into a moment of unapologetic pride.

He didn't avoid the discourse he redirected it. With a monologue that blended humor, insubordination, and cultural validation, Bad Bunny recontextualized the scandal his way.

How Bad Bunny Reacted to Super Bowl 2026 Halftime Backlash on SNL

From the moment he opened, Bad Bunny made it clear: he was unfazed. He proclaimed, “I’m very happy,” and quipped that “even Fox News” should be happy too a tongue-in-cheek nod to media critics. The show then aired a montage of Fox News pundits, cleverly edited to say,

“Bad Bunny is my favorite musician and he should be the next president.”

That montage teetered on the border of satire and spectacle criticizing the over-the-top reaction of the pundits and pointing out how much uproar had been generated around his pick. It was an integral mover of the monologue going viral, delivering the viewer a visual punchline to the criticism.

He then shifted tone to a more serious one, noting that the Super Bowl time slot wasn't his win per se but a win for Latinas and Latinos everywhere in the world, and especially those who resided in America. He spoke to the audience in Spanish to make the point explicit, declaring people's cultural wins couldn't be cancelled.

Tuning in to the realization not everyone would catch it, he wrapped up on a sarcastic, good-natured challenge:

"If you didn't catch what I just said, you have four months to get ready."

That zinger half joke, half cultural provocation was one of the evening's most frequently repeated lines.

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His response throughout remained firm: he welcomed criticism, but refused to let it dictate the terms. He recaptured the initiative, emphasized Latinx pride, and signaled that silence was not a possibility.

In the end, Bad Bunny's SNL debut did more than silence his critics it changed the narrative. He took something that might have been a distraction and turned it into a strong statement about voice, representation, and identity. For so many of his fans, that night made one thing abundantly clear: he won't just ride out the backlash he'll overcome it, on his own terms.

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