Stephen A. Smith has weighed in on the Bad Bunny Super Bowl halftime debate, aligning himself with Donald Trump’s criticism in a segment that immediately drew strong reaction.
The ESPN personality framed his comments as controversial but necessary, arguing that language and audience expectations mattered on the NFL’s biggest stage.
Stephen A. Smith explains his Bad Bunny halftime stance
Speaking during a segment on his podcast, Stephen A. Smith laid out his reasoning while addressing both the performance and Trump’s reaction.
“Let me get to something that may be deemed controversial. It’s not to me, personally, and that was the Super Bowl halftime show by Bad Bunny, which was primarily sung entirely in Spanish. We saw Lady Gaga perform, obviously in English. We saw them dancing, I got to admit, the vibe was fly,” Smith said.
He added: “… I love how the President of the United States was acting like he wasn’t going to watch, but he was watching… and by the way, while he was watching it, he naturally took time to insult it in the aftermath.”
Smith acknowledged that the performance had energy and production value, but he made it clear that the language choice was central to his argument. By referencing Trump’s reaction, he suggested the criticism was predictable rather than surprising.
Rather than focusing on cultural representation, Smith framed the issue through the lens of mass audience expectations, particularly for viewers accustomed to English-language halftime shows.
Stephen A. Smith backs Donald Trump’s English language argument
Smith expanded on his position later in the same discussion, arguing that Trump’s criticism reflected a genuine segment of the audience.
“There’s millions upon millions of Americans that would have wanted to hear something in English other than Lady Gaga. That is true,” Smith continued.
“… The president is speaking on behalf… of tens of millions of Americans who are like, ‘I didn’t understand a word he was saying because I don’t know Spanish.’ That is a valid point,” he concluded.
The comments positioned Smith closer to Trump than many of his peers in the media. He framed the argument as one of accessibility rather than intolerance, stressing that understanding matters during an event watched by such a broad audience.
Critics pushed back quickly, arguing that the Super Bowl halftime show has evolved into a global platform rather than a strictly domestic one. Supporters, however, echoed Smith’s view that language expectations should still be considered.
By siding with Trump’s core point, Smith took a stance that cut against the prevailing narrative in sports media. Whether viewed as honesty or provocation, the segment ensured the halftime debate is far from settled.
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