Former US President Barack Obama praised Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl halftime performance, calling it “smart” and saying it resonated beyond politics.
Obama discussed the show during a recent podcast interview, using it as an example while reflecting on unity and division in the United States.
His remarks quickly gained attention online and contrasted with criticism from some political figures.
Obama says Bad Bunny’s show ‘wasn’t political’
Speaking about the current political climate, Barack Obama argued that positive messaging is more effective than divisive rhetoric. He suggested cultural moments can sometimes communicate more than overt political speeches.
He then pointed to Bad Bunny’s halftime performance as an illustration of that idea. Obama emphasised that the show connected with audiences without delivering a direct political message.
“It wasn’t political. It resonated. It was smart. Because it wasn’t preaching. It was showing. It was demonstrating and displaying. This is what a community is.”
Obama expanded on what stood out to him visually during the broadcast. He highlighted the intergenerational imagery featured throughout the performance.
“And people who did not speak Spanish, and have never been to Puerto Rico, they saw that elderly woman serving a drink, and the kids dancing with their grandmas, and it was intergenerational, and it was a reminder of what Dr. King called the beloved community can look like.”
Performance draws praise and criticism
Obama acknowledged that communities are rarely perfect, but he maintained that the tone of the show conveyed inclusion. He argued that complexity and imperfection are part of any authentic cultural expression.
“Which is not perfect, and it’s messy sometimes, and I guarantee you not all those lyrics were probably politically correct.”
“And if you translated them and, you know … people are complicated, but there was a sense of, all right, there’s room for everybody here, and that, I think, is where we win.”
The halftime performance averaged more than 128 million viewers on NBC and quickly became one of the most-watched Super Bowl halftime shows on YouTube within its first 24 hours.
Not everyone responded positively. President Donald Trump criticised the performance publicly, saying it did not reflect what he described as American standards.
The differing reactions underscore how major cultural moments can spark conversation across political lines. For Obama, however, Bad Bunny’s performance stood as an example of connection rather than division.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
