Bad Bunny Sparks Super Bowl Firestorm With Rumored Dress

As Super Bowl LX approaches, the fevered anticipation surrounding the halftime show has somehow managed to eclipse even the game itself. The reason? Bad Bunny, the Puerto Rican global superstar, is set to headline the February 8 event at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, and rumors about his potential wardrobe choice have ignited a firestorm of cultural and political debate.

On January 25, 2026, social media was set ablaze by reports that Bad Bunny might wear a dress during his halftime performance. According to multiple anonymous sources close to his styling team, the look would be “a political thunderbolt disguised as couture,” intended to honor queer icons and challenge rigid ideas of masculinity. “He’s not playing it safe,” one insider confided to Billboard, while another added, “The NFL has no idea what’s coming.” While neither Bad Bunny’s team nor the NFL has confirmed or denied the rumor, that hasn’t stopped speculation—or outrage—from spreading like wildfire.

Within hours, conservative commentators and social media influencers began voicing their fury. As reported by Billboard and several news outlets, MAGA-aligned voices framed the potential dress as an existential threat to football, American values, and what they called “the children.” Former MLB pitcher John Rocker delivered a profanity-laced tirade, while conservative pastors and pundits threatened to boycott the game. One pastor was quoted as saying the NFL was “turning the biggest football stage into a pride parade.” Others labeled the rumored wardrobe choice as proof that the league had “gone fully woke.” Across platforms, the tone was unmistakable: outrage, panic, and a sense of cultural grievance.

But the backlash didn’t start with the rumored dress. Bad Bunny has long been a lightning rod for conservative criticism. He raps primarily in Spanish, a fact that’s drawn ire from some who see English as the only acceptable language for the Super Bowl stage. He openly endorsed Donald Trump’s opponent in the 2024 election and later refused to tour the U.S., citing concerns about ICE raids and the safety of his Hispanic fans. The artist’s unapologetic embrace of his roots and his willingness to speak out on political issues have made him a frequent target for those who view his presence at the Super Bowl as a provocation.

President Donald Trump himself weighed in on the controversy. In a January 24 interview with the New York Post, Trump announced he would not attend the Super Bowl at Levi’s Stadium, citing the venue’s distance as his reason. “It’s just too far away. I would. I’ve [gotten] great hands [at] the Super Bowl. They like me,” Trump said. But he didn’t stop there. He took the opportunity to criticize both Bad Bunny and Green Day, the punk band set to open the Super Bowl ceremony. “I’m anti-them. I think it’s a terrible choice. All it does is sow hatred. Terrible,” Trump declared. According to Fox TV, both acts have been openly critical of Trump’s administration and policies, making their selection for the Super Bowl a flashpoint in the ongoing culture wars.

Indeed, the political theater surrounding Super Bowl LX extends far beyond the stage. Trump advisor Corey Lewandowski previously floated the idea of ICE activity tied to the event, while Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem assured the public that federal agents would be “all over” the February 8 game. Meanwhile, Green Day has been leading explicit anti-Trump chants at recent concerts, even altering lyrics in their hit “American Idiot” from “redneck agenda” to “MAGA agenda.” Frontman Billie Joe Armstrong has been unambiguous, telling audiences, “This song is anti-fascism. This song is anti-war.” The Super Bowl, it seems, is no longer just a game—it’s a battleground for competing visions of American identity.

As rumors of Bad Bunny’s dress circulated, calls for boycotts multiplied. Some social media users begged the NFL to replace him with artists they deemed more “appropriate.” Others decried the alleged couture as evidence of “cultural degradation” or an attack on traditional values. A recurring theme ran through the outrage: the insistence that “normal people” don’t want this, that families must be “protected,” and that sports should be “kept pure.” As reported by Billboard, it’s a script that’s been deployed against queer artists, gender-nonconforming fashion, and non-English-speaking performers for decades.

Yet, amid the uproar, a different narrative has emerged—one rooted in pride and representation. Bad Bunny himself addressed the criticism during his opening monologue on Saturday Night Live’s season 51 premiere in October 2025. “You might not know this, but I’m doing the Super Bowl halftime show and I’m very happy,” he told viewers. “I think everyone is happy about it—even Fox News.” The segment then cut to a satirical montage of Fox News clips, edited to make it appear as though the hosts were praising the artist and declaring, “Bad Bunny is my favorite musician, and he should be the next president.”

Switching to Spanish, Bad Bunny spoke directly to his community: “Especially all of the Latinos and Latinas in the world here in the United States who have worked to open doors. 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.” He closed with a playful challenge to non-Spanish speakers: “And, if you didn’t understand what I just said, you have four months to learn!”

The artist’s history of bold fashion choices only fuels the speculation. As Billboard noted, Bad Bunny has previously donned dress-like outfits, including a pink dress for a Jacquemus campaign in 2022. “My style influences what my music is and everything that surrounds me within it,” he told Billboard in 2019. “The way you dress is, to say the least, a type of art. Everyone must dress, and use their creativity, express themselves in that way, their feelings, their way of thinking. Everyone must be free in that area and let the mind flow.”

Despite the uproar, production sources told TMZ that Bad Bunny will not be wearing a dress during his halftime performance. Billboard reached out to his representatives for further comment, but as of January 25, there has been no official confirmation or denial from either his team or the NFL. Whether the rumored dress is real or not, the conversation it sparked has already revealed the deep cultural and political divides that continue to shape America’s biggest night in sports.

As the clock ticks down to kickoff, one thing is clear: whatever Bad Bunny wears on that stage, his presence—and the reaction to it—will leave a lasting mark on Super Bowl history.