Bad Bunny has landed in yet another controversy after his appearance at the recent New York Yankees playoff game. When the song, God Bless America, was played at the Yankee Stadium on Tuesday night, thousands of fans stood in respect of the patriotic song. However, Bad Bunny wasn’t one of them as he remained seated during the song (via TMZ).
In the video released by the outlet, he was seen seated with his friends as the crowd around him was standing and singing the line, “stand beside her and guide her.” Bad Bunny was born as Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio in Puerto Rico, which is an unincorporated territory of the United States.
#EXCLUSIVE 🚨 Bad Bunny remained seated during 'God Bless America' at a Yankees Game, video shows. https://t.co/jKOfQ4Qj3G pic.twitter.com/rkP9NnGgdH
Hailing from Puerto Rico, Bad Bunny enjoys various fundamental rights of citizenship, but lacks certain others. He has long been outspoken about the issues related to his government’s political relationship with America.
While many blasted him on X for allegedly disrespecting the patriotic song, one fan rightly pointed out how God Bless America wasn’t the national anthem of the U.S. It apparently doesn’t need Bunny or any other American citizen to necessarily stand up in respect of the song.
God Bless America isn't the national anthem. No one needs to stand for it.
It is interesting to note that far-right white supremacist groups have once protested the song because it was written by a Jewish immigrant. This controversy follows another one when Bad Bunny was tasked with headlining the Super Bowl 2026 Halftime show.
Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl 2026 Halftime Show Controversy Explained
Bad Bunny was the first Latin male artist to be chosen for the halftime show for NFL’s Super Bowl event. He had previously made appearances at the halftime show, alongside Jennifer Lopez and Shakira. However, the choice of Bad Bunny did not sit right with many fans.
Many fans pointed out how the singer didn’t have any songs in English. They accused the NFL of alienating their larger English-speaking American fan base in favor of Latin American fans. Many conservative commentators were fired up over the decision. Political commentator Benny Johnson shared on X that Bunny was also a massive Trump hater and Anti-ICE activist.
This is Bad Bunny.
He was just announced as the 2026 Super Bowl halftime show.
– Massive Trump hater
– Anti-ICE activist
– No songs in English
He even canceled his entire U.S. tour for this reason: “F***ing ICE could be outside my concert. And it’s something that we were… pic.twitter.com/11KvuSWnEH
Bad Bunny had earlier explained why he didn’t bring his Debí Tirar Más Fotos World Tour to the U.S. He shared with i-D Magazine, “There were many reasons why I didn’t show up in the U.S., and none of them were out of hate.” However, he shared that he feared the “f**king ICE could be outside” his concert, adding that he was “very concerned about” it.
However, he was excited to land the gig at the halftime show. After he was given the opportunity, the rapper shared (via CBS News):
What I’m feeling goes beyond myself. It’s for those who came before me and ran countless yards so I could come in and score a touchdown… this is for my people, my culture, and our history. Ve y dile a tu abuela, que seremos el HALFTIME SHOW DEL SUPER BOWL.
Interestingly, Kristi Noem, the Secretary of Homeland Security, shared that ICE will be “all over” Super Bowl. She blasted the Super Bowl for the inclusion of Bad Bunny’s performance, sharing, “They suck and we’ll win” (via Rolling Stone).
Donald Trump Comments on Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl Performance
It wasn’t just the conservative political commentators or the homeland security secretary who spoke against Bad Bunny. The President of the United States himself was asked to comment on Bunny during his interaction with Greg Kelly.
Donald Trump wasn’t too pleased with NFL’s decision and shared that he had never heard of Bunny. He shared that it was an “absolutely ridiculous” decision from NFL. He shared (via The New York Times):
I never heard of him. I don’t know who he is. I don’t know why they’re doing it, it’s crazy, and then they blame it on some promoter that they hired to pick up entertainment. I think it’s absolutely ridiculous.
Meanwhile, Bad Bunny appeared on SNL as a guest host and responded to the backlash with some jokes. He shared that everyone was happy about his upcoming halftime show, “even Fox News.” During his monologue, he included a montage of Fox news clips from contributors, which said the line, “He should be the next president.” He appears unfazed by the backlash.
What do you think of Bad Bunny’s latest controversy at the Yankees stadium? Let us know in the comments below!
