Why Bad Bunny Said Yes to the Super Bowl but No to a Tour in the United States

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Five years after releasing his bold 2020 album YHLQMDLG (Yo Hago Lo Que Me Da La Gana, or I Do Whatever I Want), Bad Bunny is living up to its title. In 2026, Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio will become the first Spanish-language artist to headline the Super Bowl halftime show solo — a milestone not just in his career, but in U.S. cultural history.

The announcement has raised eyebrows: why would Bad Bunny agree to perform at the Super Bowl after publicly turning down a U.S. tour for his album Debí Tirar Más Fotos, citing the country’s sociopolitical climate?

The Reason Behind Bad Bunny Skipping an US Tour

In an early September interview with i+D, the artist revealed his reasoning. His decision to skip a U.S. tour was tied directly to immigration raids carried out by ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement), which has been deporting thousands of Latino residents.

When asked if mass deportations were the reason, Bad Bunny didn’t hold back: “Honestly, yes.” He clarified that he’s performed in the U.S. many times and holds no hatred toward the country, but emphasized that safety was his main concern.

He pointed to his Puerto Rico residency as an alternative, noting: “We’re a U.S. territory. People from the States could come here to see the show. Latinos and Puerto Ricans living in the U.S. could travel here or anywhere else. But the issue was, damn, ICE could be waiting outside the concert. And that was something we talked about a lot — something that worried us deeply.” For him, the risk of a surprise raid at one of his shows was unacceptable.

So Why The Super Bowl?

Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl performance may seem contradictory, but the context is very different. The halftime show, while the most-watched musical event in the U.S., isn’t a Bad Bunny concert — most attendees at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara will be there for the NFL championship game, not just for him. The audience will be more diverse, less concentrated with his Latino fanbase.

That shift makes the halftime show less risky — and potentially more powerful. With millions watching, Bad Bunny has the chance to use his platform as a kind of cultural Trojan horse, bringing visibility to issues facing Puerto Rico and Latino communities through his music and presence.

There’s also a broader cultural statement: his appearance underscores that Latino artists don’t need to sing in English to dominate on the world stage.

For Bad Bunny, the Super Bowl isn’t just a performance. It’s a moment of representation, defiance, and history in the making.

Read the full article in Spanish by Alberto Palao on LOS40.com