Two American football teams - the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots - will vie for the championship title on Sunday during Super Bowl LX. But mid-game there's a separate, equally high-profile battle brewing: a culture war.
Puerto Rican superstar Bad Bunny, who has been tapped as the show's headliner, has attracted an unprecedented level of criticism for his outspoken opposition to US immigration policy - with some even calling for his deportation, even though he is a US citizen.
It's not exactly new. Half-time performances have a history of sparking controversy - from Janet Jackson's infamous wardrobe malfunction in 2004, to the live debut of Beyoncé's Black Lives Matter anthem Formation in 2016.
But this year's show ignited debates before Bad Bunny - the most streamed artist in the world, who primarily performs in Spanish - even took the stage. Republicans balked at his politics, with an Alabama senator dubbing it the 'woke bowl'. US President Donald Trump called Bad Bunny's selection 'absolutely ridiculous,' and the Speaker of the House summed it up as a 'terrible decision'.
The pushback even sparked a competing half-time event from conservative organization Turning Point USA, which will air an 'All American' counter-program during Bad Bunny's set that will be headlined by Trump ally Kid Rock.
With tens of millions expected to tune into the performance, what Bad Bunny will do in front of the crowd is anyone's guess. At a press conference on Thursday, the 31-year-old hinted that his performance would be more about unity and healing than spreading division.
During his recent Grammy win, he publicly declared 'ICE out,' referring to immigration enforcement, a topic that resonates with many. Eddie Miranda, a Puerto Rican DJ, expressed how historical this moment is, representing a part of the United States that has been overlooked.
Overall, Bad Bunny's presence on the halftime stage is seen as profoundly political, with expectations that he will use his enormous platform to address critical issues impacting the Latino community. Ultimately, the performance is tipped to become an event that goes beyond entertainment, channeling significant cultural and political discussion.
