Bad Bunny’s performance at the Apple Music Super Bowl 60 Halftime Show sparked significant controversy, leading a Republican congressman to push for an official investigation into the NFL and broadcaster NBC. The demand, made shortly after the February 11 game in California, focuses on concerns about the content shown during what is traditionally a widely viewed, family-oriented broadcast.
Rep. Andy Ogles of Tennessee issued an open letter to the House Energy and Commerce Committee, urging a formal congressional inquiry. He alleged that Bad Bunny’s 13-minute set was saturated with explicit sexual content and that the NFL and NBC failed to uphold their responsibility to protect viewers, especially children, from inappropriate material during a prime-time event.
Specific Complaints Highlight Sexual Content and Alleged Indecency Violations
In his public statements on social media and his letter, Ogles condemned the performance’s sexually suggestive nature. He wrote:
The Apple Music Super Bowl 60 Halftime Show was pure smut, brazenly aired on national television for every American family to witness. Children were forced to endure explicit displays of gay sexual acts, women gyrating provocatively, and Bad Bunny shamelessly grabbing his crotch while dry-humping the air.
Ogles emphasized that the show’s content went beyond suggestive imagery to potentially violate federal broadcast indecency standards. He particularly criticized the selection of songs such as “Safaera” and “Yo Perreo Sola,” which, while censored during the live event, originally contain graphic sexual references.
He argued that the omission of the most explicit verses did not negate the overall explicitness of the performance:
And if that weren’t outrageous enough, the performance’s lyrics openly glorified sodomy and countless other unspeakable depravities. These flagrant, indecent acts are illegal to be displayed on public airways,
concluding with a direct call for congressional action:
That is why I am requesting that the Energy and Commerce Committee launch a formal congressional inquiry into the National Football League and NBC immediately… American culture will not be mocked or corrupted without consequence.
At the time of this demand, neither the NFL nor NBC had issued a public response to Rep. Ogles’ letter.
Conservative Figures Amplify Criticism Surrounding Halftime Show
This congressional call for investigation followed a surge of conservative backlash. Various politicians and commentators voiced disappointment and objection to the halftime show’s themes and presentation, framing it as unsuitable for a family audience. Among the critics was former President Donald Trump, who previously opposed Bad Bunny’s selection as headliner and, after the performance, described it as:
absolutely terrible, one of the worst, EVER,
Furthermore, Trump labeled the spectacle as:
an affront to the Greatness of America.
Florida Representative Randy Fine supported Ogles’ stance, characterizing the performance as illegal and specifically citing the original lyrics of “Safaera” as evidence. Fine expressed intentions to petition the Federal Communications Commission to consider penalties and review broadcast licenses related to the NFL, NBC, and the artist.
Both Fine and Ogles acknowledged that the sexual themes remained clear despite edits made to the televised performance, stating those themes were:
readily apparent across any language barrier,
highlighting concern over cultural and linguistic differences diminishing the impact of explicit material.
Cultural and Symbolic Elements in the Halftime Show Overlooked by Critics
While much of the criticism focused on sexual content, the halftime show also incorporated significant cultural and symbolic moments. Bad Bunny’s presentation featured scenes reflective of daily life in Puerto Rico, including a live wedding ceremony on the field and a poignant moment where he passed a Grammy Award to a child actor portraying a younger version of himself. A bold message displayed above Levi’s Stadium read:
The only thing more powerful than hate is love.
These elements aimed to convey themes of cultural pride, personal growth, and unity, which some commentators noted were missing from the critical discourse surrounding the event.
Historic Context of Halftime Controversies and Future Oversight Possibilities
The disputes over Bad Bunny’s halftime set fit into a broader history of Super Bowl halftime show controversies, which have included debates about performers such as Elvis Presley, Jennifer Lopez, and Shakira. Each controversy reflects shifting cultural norms and differing expectations about what is appropriate for such a prominent broadcast.
Rep. Ogles’ formal request elevates this particular incident from a cultural debate into a possible governmental oversight matter. Whether the House Energy and Commerce Committee or federal regulators will pursue this inquiry remains uncertain, yet the demand highlights ongoing tensions about representation, morality, and media standards during major national events.
As the NFL and NBC consider their responses, the clash illustrates how entertainment at one of the nation’s largest broadcasts continues to intersect with political and social fault lines in the U.S.
🚨The Apple Music Super Bowl LX Halftime Show was pure smut, brazenly aired on national television for every American family to witness. Children were forced to endure explicit displays of gay sexual acts, women gyrating provocatively, and Bad Bunny shamelessly grabbing his… pic.twitter.com/wcWTofhQQn
— Rep. Andy Ogles (@RepOgles) February 9, 2026
https://twitter.com/RepFine/status/2020925409043313023
