Bad Bunny Addresses Super Bowl Backlash on SNL

Bad Bunny opened Saturday Night Live’s Season 51 on Oct. 4, hosting for the second time and marking his fourth overall appearance. In his opening monologue he mocked right‑wing backlash over his selection as the Apple Music Super Bowl LX halftime headliner, playing a stitched supercut of Fox News personalities praising him and poking fun at critics. He called out threats from conservative figures and Homeland Security officials who said ICE would be present at the Super Bowl, and switched to Spanish to thank Latino fans, saying the booking was “more than an achievement of mine” and a win for the community. He quipped, “If you didn’t understand what I just said, you have four months to learn,” and noted he wasn’t the musical guest because he was recovering from a 31‑show Puerto Rico residency. Doja Cat served as the episode’s musical guest, and the show reinforced Bad Bunny’s growing mainstream and cultural influence amid the controversy.