The NFL is facing a fresh backlash after reports surfaced that Super Bowl halftime headliner Bad Bunny plans to wear a dress during the league’s biggest showcase, a move critics say would turn the event into another culture-war spectacle.
A member of Bad Bunny’s style team claimed the singer is preparing to wear a dress during his Super Bowl LX halftime performance, describing the look as “a political thunderbolt disguised as couture.”
The unnamed source told Radar Online the outfit is intended to honor Puerto Rican queer icons and deliberately provoke on one of the most-watched broadcasts in the world.
“He loves controversy. He lives to push envelopes,” the stylist said.
Another person identified as part of Bad Bunny’s team said the NFL “has no idea what’s coming,” adding: “He’s not playing it safe.”
Neither Bad Bunny nor the NFL has officially confirmed the wardrobe plan, and it remains unclear whether the reports reflect a finalized decision or a leak meant to stir attention ahead of the game. Newsweek said it contacted Bad Bunny’s representative for comment Friday.
Super Bowl LX is scheduled for Feb. 8 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California.
Even without confirmation, the reports sparked immediate outrage online, with critics accusing the league of once again allowing politics and social activism to overshadow football. The reaction builds on months of backlash from conservatives and MAGA supporters who opposed Bad Bunny’s selection as the halftime headliner when it was announced in September 2025.
As the rumors spread, the suggestion that Bad Bunny, whose real name is Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, could take the stage in a dress became the latest flashpoint.
As if the Super Bowl halftime show couldn’t get any worse, Bad Bunny is planning on wearing a dress to “honor queers” 🤦🏼♂️
If you weren’t planning already, you should boycott the halftime show.
Shame on you @nflcommish for allowing this nonsense. pic.twitter.com/mxPavIvmAb
— Jon Root (@JonnyRoot_) January 23, 2026
Right-leaning media personality Jon Root wrote on X: “As if the Super Bowl halftime show couldn’t get any worse, Bad Bunny is planning on wearing a dress to ‘honor queers.’ If you weren’t planning already, you should boycott the halftime show. Shame on you @nflcommish for allowing this nonsense.”
The post drew more than 7,000 views.
Prediction market Polymarket Football also weighed in, posting: “Bad Bunny plans to wear a dress during his 2026 Super Bowl halftime show. This will easily be the lowest viewed halftime show of all time,” a message viewed more than 106,000 times.
Conservative pastor and commentator Rev. Jordan Wells urged fans to tune out entirely.
“This is exactly why I’m skipping the game this year. The NFL went full woke, picked a guy who’s turning the biggest football stage into a pride parade. Football used to be about touchdowns, not drag tributes. Who’s with me? Boycotting the halftime show, or the whole thing?” Wells wrote. His post received more than 4,800 views.
The controversy lands after a strong year for the 31-year-old performer. His 2025 album DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS dominated charts, earned critical praise and reinforced his global popularity. Bad Bunny has won three Grammy Awards and 17 Latin Grammy Awards and performs almost entirely in Spanish.
Still, the tension surrounding his Super Bowl appearance predates the wardrobe claims.
When the NFL named Bad Bunny as a halftime performer last fall, the decision drew criticism from conservatives, including President Donald Trump, who reportedly told Newsmax the pick was “absolutely ridiculous.”
Some critics accused the league of making a political statement and vowed to boycott the show.
The backlash followed Bad Bunny’s past remarks about avoiding certain U.S. tour stops, citing concerns about immigration enforcement and the treatment of Latinos under the Trump administration.
Despite the growing criticism, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has stood firm.
“The NFL is not considering dropping Bad Bunny. It’s carefully thought through. I’m not sure we’ve ever selected an artist where we didn’t have some blowback or criticism. It’s pretty hard to do when you have literally hundreds of millions of people that are watching,” Goodell said at an October 2025 news conference.
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