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Former ESPN broadcaster Sage Steele said Friday that the problem with Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl LX halftime performance had nothing to do with the fact that he was from Puerto Rico.
Steele said on “Faulkner Focus” with Harris Faulkner that his problem was that Bad Bunny had led “with hatred” since he was announced as the game’s musical headliner.
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Bad Bunny speaks onstage during the press conference for the Super Bowl LX Pregame and Apple Music Super Bowl LX Halftime Show at Moscone Center West on February 5, 2026 in San Francisco, California. (Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic)
“I also want to point out one thing,” Steele said. “It’s not about someone who’s not American, and Bad Bunny is, but it’s not about that. U2, they’re from Ireland, they gave an incredible performance right after 9/11, about 20 years ago. It’s about, as an artist, leading with hate, and that’s what Bad Bunny has done since day one.
“When he says, ‘I’m not going to speak your language, you have four months to learn it,’ are you kidding me? That would never be acceptable in their country. So that’s what’s troubling. Not that he’s from Puerto Rico. For him to say he hates us, that he won’t take our money, but now he does.”
Bad Bunny said American fans should learn to speak English before his performance. He attempted to walk away from that remark Thursday during his pre-show interview with Apple Music.
NFL Legend Blames League for Choosing Bad Bunny as Halftime Performer: ‘Anything for Money’
Bad Bunny accepts the award for Album of the Year at the 68th Annual Grammy Awards, broadcast live Sunday, February 1, 2026 on the CBS Television Network and streaming live and on demand on Paramount+. (Stewart Cook/CBS via Getty Images)
Steele praised Turning Point USA for giving fans an alternative halftime show for those who don’t like Bad Bunny’s music or politics. She added that she knew why the NFL was going for Bad Bunny from a business standpoint.
“I love that there’s an alternative,” Steele said. “This is America and I give TPUSA a lot of credit for doing it. I think it was needed now more than ever. However, I believe more people will probably go ahead and watch the Super Bowl halftime show with Bad Bunny, if for no other reason, because a lot of times people hate watching just to see how bad he’s going to be. Unfortunately, he made it very clear. He says, I don’t speak in English. I sing in Spanish. You have four months to learn the language” And I think it’s that part, with the hate and the talk about ICE, etc., that bothers so many people.
Bad Bunny accepts the Album of the Year award for Debí Tirar Más Fotos at the 68th annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, California on February 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
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“However, what we have to remember is that this is a business decision. Two years ago there were only two other NFL games played in other countries. Last season, three and in 2025, five games. All the commissioner cares about right now is growing the game and they want to be in more countries. They don’t care what the players surveyed say or what the players say. fans. It’s about the business of the NFL and making it more global.”
