- John Oliver defended the NFL’s choice of Bad Bunny for the Super Bowl, calling him “one of the hottest, most commercially successful people alive.”
- The decision has sparked furor from conservative figures, with warnings of a heavy ICE presence at the event.
- Oliver used the topic to condemn recent “nauseating” ICE raids across the country, highlighting community pushback.
- Bad Bunny mocked the backlash on “Saturday Night Live,” telling haters they have “four months to learn” Spanish.
Oliver Fires Back at Super Bowl Controversy
On his latest episode of “Last Week Tonight,” John Oliver forcefully defended the NFL’s decision to name Bad Bunny as the headliner for next year’s Super Bowl Halftime Show, mocking the widespread controversy from conservative critics. Oliver quipped that the NFL had “‘controversially’ gave the Super Bowl Halftime Show to one of the hottest, most commercially successful people alive.”
The Right-Wing Backlash
The announcement has triggered significant backlash from the right. Former Trump campaign manager Kristi Noem warned on a podcast that ICE would be “all over that place” during the Super Bowl to “enforce the law.” This comes as Bad Bunny has been an outspoken critic of the Trump administration and its policies, even confirming he skipped a U.S. tour over concerns about ICE raids near his concerts.
Bad Bunny’s Own Words
The Puerto Rican superstar addressed the furor during his recent hosting gig on “Saturday Night Live.” After thanking his fans in Spanish, he cheekily told his detractors, “If you didn’t understand what I just said, you have four months to learn.”
From Pop Culture to Policy
Oliver used the segment to pivot to the larger issue of U.S. immigration enforcement. He condemned the “nauseating footage of ICE raids around the country,” specifically mentioning a recent incident in Chicago.
Hope in Community Pushback
Despite what he called a “grim” situation, Oliver praised the “strength of the pushback from local communities,” highlighting creative and widespread protests against ICE. He concluded that the “ugliness” of the government’s actions must be “pushed back on and exposed at every available opportunity.”
Image Referance: https://variety.com/2025/music/global/john-oliver-applauds-bad-bunny-super-bowl-slams-ice-raids-1236540861/
