Meghan McCain, Logan Paul, Elmo and more react to Bad Bunny Super Bowl show
Bad Bunny’s history-making performance as the halftime headliner of Super Bowl LX Sunday night drew an estimated 135.4 million viewers and reactions far and wide.
Although a wide swath of viewers shared positive feedback to the 13-minute celebration of Puerto Rican culture, featuring appearances by Ricky Martin, Lady Gaga, Cardi B and Pedro Pascal, there were some detractors who sided with President Trump — who referred to the show as a “slap in the face to our country.”
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Former “Real Housewives of New York” cast member Jill Zarin took umbrage with most of the performance being sung in Spanish. “I just don’t think it was appropriate to have it in Spanish…I don’t speak Spanish. I would’ve like to have known the words he was saying,” she ranted. “To me, it looked like a political statement because there were literally no white people in the entire thing.”
Zarin, 62, who was fired from the Bravo series in 2011, added: “I think it was a political statement. I’m not taking a side one way or the other, I just do. I think it was an ICE thing. I think the NFL sold out and it’s a very sad thing. Seventy-five years and, you know … shame. Shame.”
Zarin’s reaction echoes the sentiment of YouTuber-turned-professional boxer Jake Paul, who ranted about Bad Bunny being selected for the Big Game.
“Turn off this halftime,” he encouraged his social media followers, referring to Bad Bunny as “a fake American citizen performing who publicly hates America. I cannot support that.””
The six-time Grammy Award winner, legally known as Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, is an American citizen born in Puerto Rico, which is a U.S. commonwealth.
Paul’s comments quickly sparked backlash online, including a public response from his brother, social media influencer Logan Paul.
“I love my brother but I don’t agree with this,” Logan tweeted late Sunday. “Puerto Ricans are Americans & I’m happy they were given the opportunity to showcase the talent that comes from the island.”
Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), who has Puerto Rican lineage, called out Jake Paul and accused him of relocating to the island territory “to avoid paying your taxes while kids across America go hungry.”
“Meanwhile Benito actually funds low income kids’ access to arts and sports programs, while you defund them,” she said in a statement. “Of course you’re mad. He makes you look small.”
Bad Bunny’s performance also drew praise from conservative TV personality Meghan McCain.
“I’m sorry but I just genuinely question your taste level if you didn’t enjoy the Bad Bunny halftime show,” the “Bad Republican” author wrote on Twitter.
Even “Sesame Street” star Elmo got in on the fun, tweeting: “That Bunny was AMAZING. Elmo thinks he should be called Good Bunny! Elmo loves you, Mr. Good Bunny! ”