ESPN personality Stephen A. Smith has publicly acknowledged that he agrees with part of Donald Trump’s criticism of Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl LX halftime performance, even as the former president’s remarks sparked widespread backlash.
The 2025 NFL season wrapped up with the Seattle Seahawks defeating the New England Patriots at Levi’s Stadium, but much of the post-game conversation shifted away from football and toward the halftime show. Bad Bunny, the global superstar from Puerto Rico, delivered a performance entirely in Spanish a creative choice that quickly became the center of political and cultural debate.
Donald Trump reacted strongly on his Truth Social platform, calling the halftime show one of the worst in Super Bowl history. He argued that the performance failed to reflect what he described as “American standards,” criticizing both the language used and the choreography. His post framed the show as unrelatable to much of the U.S. audience and accused mainstream media of praising it despite what he saw as obvious flaws.
While many commentators pushed back against Trump’s comments pointing out Bad Bunny’s global popularity and the growing diversity of the NFL’s audience Stephen A. Smith took a more nuanced stance during an episode of The Stephen A. Smith Show.
Smith made it clear that he was not endorsing the tone or broader political messaging of Trump’s rant. However, he said there was a practical point worth acknowledging: a significant portion of American viewers do not speak Spanish and therefore could not understand the lyrics.
According to Smith, it is reasonable to note that millions of viewers expect at least part of the Super Bowl halftime show to be accessible in English. He emphasized that this observation does not invalidate Bad Bunny’s talent or cultural impact, nor does it diminish the importance of celebrating Hispanic heritage on such a massive stage.
Smith added that he personally would have enjoyed a performance that blended languages or featured multiple artists, mentioning performers like Jennifer Lopez or Shakira as examples of artists who have successfully crossed linguistic and cultural lines in past Super Bowl shows. In his view, a mix of Spanish and English songs could have helped broaden the show’s appeal without taking away from its cultural significance.
Ultimately, Smith framed his comments as a reflection of audience expectations rather than an attack on Bad Bunny. He argued that recognizing language barriers does not equate to rejecting diversity, but rather highlights the challenge of balancing global representation with mass accessibility during one of the most widely watched television events in the world.
The debate underscores a larger conversation about culture, language, and representation in American sports entertainment one that goes far beyond a single halftime show.
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