Bad Bunny, the chart-topping Puerto Rican superstar, kicked off the 51st season of Saturday Night Live (SNL) on October 4, 2025, with a monologue that was as much a cultural statement as it was a comedic performance. Wearing his signature shades and a mischievous grin, Bad Bunny didn’t shy away from the recent controversy swirling around his selection as the 2026 Super Bowl halftime show headliner. Instead, he leaned right into it, blending humor, pride, and a pointed message that reverberated far beyond Studio 8H.
“You might not know this, but I’m doing the Super Bowl halftime show and I’m very happy,” Bad Bunny announced, his tone both celebratory and sly. “I think everyone is happy about it. Even Fox News.” The audience erupted in laughter as SNL rolled a cleverly edited montage of Fox News personalities, their words chopped and stitched together until they declared, “Bad Bunny is my favorite musician and he should be the next president.” According to Variety, this playful jab was a direct response to the network’s recent criticisms of the NFL’s decision to book a Spanish-language artist for America’s biggest sporting event.
The backlash from some conservative corners has been swift and vocal. Right-wing influencers took to social media to question the NFL’s choice, with some arguing that Bad Bunny “isn’t American” or doesn’t “scream American football,” despite the fact that Puerto Rico is a U.S. territory and its residents are American citizens. According to USA TODAY, one prominent conservative influencer posted, “This isn’t about music, it’s about putting a guy on stage who hates Trump and MAGA.” The controversy escalated when Corey Lewandowski, former campaign manager for Donald Trump, suggested on a podcast that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) might be present at the Super Bowl specifically because of Bad Bunny’s performance. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem also weighed in, telling Fox News that immigration officials would be “all over that place,” and called the NFL “so weak” for their choice of halftime performer. “I have the responsibility to make sure everybody who goes to the Super Bowl has the opportunity to enjoy it and to leave safely. That’s what America’s about,” Noem said.
Bad Bunny, however, appeared unfazed by the furor. He used his SNL platform to double down, switching seamlessly into Spanish for a heartfelt message: “Especially all of the Latinos and Latinas in the world here in the United States who have worked to open doors,” he said. “It’s more than a win for myself, it’s a win for all of us. Our footprints and our contribution in this country, no one will ever be able to take that away or erase it.” Then, flashing a cheeky smile, he delivered the line that quickly went viral: “If you didn’t understand what I just said, you have four months to learn.” As Variety noted, this was both a playful challenge and a proud assertion of Latino culture’s place on America’s biggest stage.
The monologue didn’t just address the controversy—it also showcased Bad Bunny’s self-deprecating humor. He poked fun at his own choreography, sharing a viral clip from his recent 31-show residency in Puerto Rico that showed him limping offstage after an especially demanding dance move. “My residency was beautiful, everyone loved it,” he quipped, then joked about celebrities at his shows being “on drugs,” playfully singling out Jon Hamm. SNL viewers were treated to a surprise as Hamm, dubbed “Juan Jamón” by Bad Bunny, appeared in the audience wearing the same outfit from the viral concert clip, dancing along to Bad Bunny’s music. “Actually, that wasn’t Jon Hamm, that was Juan Jamon,” Bad Bunny teased, as the camera lingered on the actor, “I think he’s a little obsessed with me.”
This wasn’t Bad Bunny’s first rodeo at SNL—he previously hosted in 2023 to viral acclaim and was the musical guest for the Season 50 finale. But this second stint came at a particularly charged moment, just a week after his Super Bowl announcement. As The Spokesman-Review reported, the NFL’s decision to book him was met with both celebration and criticism, highlighting the ongoing debates about identity, inclusion, and what it means to be “American.”
SNL itself is no stranger to change. The 51st season’s premiere also marked a period of transition for the show, with several new cast members—Jeremy Culhane, Kam Patterson, Veronika Slowikowska, and Tommy Brennan—joining the ranks after the departure of fan favorites like Heidi Gardner and Ego Nwodim. According to Variety, the show also shuffled its writing staff, with Martin Herlihy moving behind the scenes and Ben Marshall stepping into the spotlight. The episode featured Doja Cat as the musical guest, and upcoming hosts include Amy Poehler and Sabrina Carpenter, promising a season packed with fresh faces and high-profile talent.
But it was Bad Bunny’s monologue that set the tone, not just for the night but for the larger cultural moment. Online reactions were predictably polarized: fans and many in the Latino community hailed the performance as a milestone, a celebration of progress and representation. Critics, particularly from conservative circles, continued to voice their disapproval, some decrying the use of Spanish during such a high-profile broadcast. According to Deadline, the performance “triggered cheers from the live audience and polarized online reactions, with conservatives criticizing the Spanish elements and supporters viewing it as a pushback against xenophobia.”
The SNL team didn’t miss a beat in skewering the controversy. During the “Weekend Update” segment, Michael Che mocked the ICE threats, joking that immigration agents would be at the game to “catch all those farm workers who can afford Super Bowl tickets.” The jab landed, underscoring the absurdity of the outrage and the resilience of SNL’s brand of satire.
Beyond the headlines and hashtags, Bad Bunny’s message was clear: this moment wasn’t just about him. “It’s more than a win for myself, it’s a win for all of us,” he said, acknowledging the generations of Latinos who have contributed to American culture and society. His upcoming 24-date “Debí Tirar Más Fotos” world tour, launching in Santo Domingo on November 21, is further proof that he’s not slowing down—if anything, he’s just getting started.
As the lights dimmed on Studio 8H, it was hard not to feel that something bigger was happening. Bad Bunny’s SNL monologue was more than just a comedy bit; it was a declaration, a celebration, and a challenge to anyone still questioning who gets to stand on America’s biggest stages. With the Super Bowl just months away, all eyes—and ears—will be on Bad Bunny, whether his critics like it or not.
