That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Super Bowl LX Controversy is not about Football

Bad Bunny shown performing at his homeland at the Coliseo du Puerto Rico Jose Miguel Agrelot in San Juan Puerto Rico on Sat Sep 20, 2025. Bad Bunny will be performing at Super Bowl LX in Santa Clara on Feb 8, 2025 (AP News photo)

Super Bowl LX Controversy is not about Football

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi Gonzalez

Super Bowl LX will take place at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, on Sunday, February 8, 2026. There has been considerable criticism, especially on social media, regarding the NFL’s selection of Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, a Puerto Rican rapper, singer, and record producer, as the halftime show entertainer.

He is known as the “King of Latin Trap”. He is better known as “Bad Bunny,” who is credited with helping Spanish-language rap music achieve mainstream popularity. He is 31 years old, born in Bayamón, Puerto Rico.

Currently, the most famous and successful pop music star in the world is Taylor Swift, though she recently clarified she was never formally asked by the NFL to perform at the halftime show. Swift is a billionaire, with Bloomberg estimating her net worth at $2.1 billion as of October 2025, and she is also engaged to K.C. Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce.

So, what about this guy ‘Bad Bunny”? This is all about money. The NFL plays regular-season games in countries including the United Kingdom, Germany, Brazil, and Spain, with future games scheduled for Australia, Canada, and Ireland.

Through the Global Markets Program, NFL teams have been granted international marketing rights to build their fan base in specific countries. The league also leverages global media platforms, including streaming services, to engage fans worldwide.

Bad Bunny has stated his sexuality is fluid; sometimes during his performances, he dresses like a girl, and other times like a man. He is controversial in many ways, but some would say that’s just show business in 2025.

Ultimately, the NFL hired Bad Bunny to make them a lot of money. The NFL is one of the richest and most famous sports leagues in the world. The Super Bowl is not just another sporting event; it is a world event. During a recent appearance on NBC’s SNL, Bad Bunny announced he would be singing in Spanish and joked, “If you didn’t understand what I just said, you have four months to learn.”

The backlash was instant, especially on social media around the world—and mostly here in the United States, where today there is seldom a unified opinion about anything; it is like half the country believes the world is square and the other half believes it is round. (joking, of course).

The fact remains, Bad Bunny seems to thrive on controversy. This past Tuesday, during the seventh-inning stretch, traditional God Bless America at Yankee Stadium, he chose to ‘sit it out’ The only “rap” I know is the wrapping I do with my family at Christmas time, when I ‘rap’ presents, and as a kid, the only Bunny I remember was Bugs Bunny, whose voice was that of Mel Blanc, the legendary voice actor with an iconic Brooklyn and Bronx accent.

So I have never heard Bad Bunny on tape or during a life concert. I like to believe that the overwhelming majority of people are like me, who watch the Super Bowl for the game, not for the halftime show. In 2012, Super Bowl XLVI was considered the first “social media”Super Bowl due to increased marketing efforts and the use of “second screens” by viewers.

My wife enjoys watching the Super Bowl because of the commercials. Most people go to the refrigerator during the halftime show. So, you ask, what about this guy, they called “Bad Bunny”? The story goes that as a child in Puerto Rico, he wore a Bunny costume with an angry face. This inspired him to the concept of “El Conejo Malo,” “The Bad Bunny. And, that’s All, Folks!

Amaury Pi-Gonzalez – Cuban-born Pi-González is one of the pioneers of Spanish-language baseball play-by-play in America. Began as Oakland A’s Spanish-language voice in 1977 ending in 2024 (interrupted by stops with the Giants, Mariners and Angels). Voice of the Golden State Warriors from 1992 through 1998. 2010 inducted in the Bay Area Radio Hall of fame.

While in the Bay Area, great food and great prices. 998cuba.com

MLB podcast with Charlie O: Yanks German pitching perfect umps on him with hand checks; Jackie Robinson day MLB only 7% African Americans in the game; plus more

New York Yankees pitcher Domingo German, third from left, shows his hand to the umpires during the top of the fourth inning at Yankee Stadium in New York against Minnesota Twins on Sat Apr 15, 2023 (AP News photo)

On the MLB podcast with Charlie O:

#1 Charlie talk about that weird pomp and circumstance with the New York Yankees Domingo German who was in the middle of pitching a perfect game and the umpires. Crew chief James Hoye did a routine hand check on German but later did a real once over and it brought out German interpreter, manager Aaron Boone, catcher Kyle Higashioka, while the umpiring crew stood by as Hoye was lecturing German about washing his hands. Ironically Minnesota Twins manager Rocco Baldelli ended up being the one who got tossed out of the game for pressing Hoye on what was going on. Too many questions.

#2 Charlie, Saturday was Jackie Robinson day where all players, managers, coaches, and umpires wear number 42 every Apr 15th to commemorate his arrival in baseball on Apr 15, 1947 with the Brooklyn Dodgers. But yet and still MLB has a low percentage of blacks playing the game around 7%. What would Jackie Robinson say or think if he knew this today?

#3 The Chicago Cubs Cody Bellinger got a nice ovation upon his return to Los Angeles against the Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on Friday. The ovation went past the time allowed to get back in the batter’s box so Bellinger was called for a strike for clock violation while receiving the standing ovation.

#4 Charlie, Bad Bunny is the latest in a line of artists who are up to signing MLB talent the entertainer has the San Francisco Giants Wilmer Flores, Toronto Blue Jays Santiago Espinal, and the Colorado Rockies Yonathan Daza under his company. Bunny is one of the few musical artists who are in the agency business Jay Z amongst them.

#5 What is going on with Detroit Tigers Javy Baez who got double off at third base not doubling up and taking off for third base with one out on a fly to center as the Toronto Blue Jays threw him out at second base. Baez’ numbers have a lot to be desired with just four hits in 40 games, eight strike outs in 11 games, no home run and one RBI and hitting .159. Baez is in a six year deal worth $140 million.

Join Charlie O for the MLB podcast each Sunday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com