BAD BUNNY TELLS AMERICANS TO LEARN SPANISH IF THEY WANT TO UNDERSTAND HIS SONG LYRICS DURING THE SUPER BOWL – BENGALS CEO IMMEDIATELY SPEAKS OUT, LEAVING NETIZENS GLOATING.
“You have four months to learn”: Bad Bunny sparks backlash — Bengals CEO blasts NFL over “arrogant and divisive” Super Bowl Halftime Show
Cincinnati, October 6, 2025 —
What started as a bold cultural statement has now ignited a storm in the sports world. After Bad Bunny’s fiery Saturday Night Live appearance, where he addressed critics of his upcoming 2026 Super Bowl Halftime Show by telling viewers, “You have four months to learn Spanish,” a new and unexpected voice has entered the debate — the CEO of the Cincinnati Bengals, who publicly called out the NFL for what he described as “a display of arrogance and disrespect toward the game.”
A Pop Star’s Message Turns Into a League-Wide Controversy
On Saturday night, the global superstar Bad Bunny (Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio) used his SNL monologue to address the backlash surrounding his Super Bowl selection. The Puerto Rican artist, whose music is almost entirely in Spanish, mocked critics and media outlets — particularly Fox News — for questioning his ability to headline the event.
“I’m doing the Super Bowl Halftime Show, and I think everybody’s happy about it… even Fox News!” he joked, before switching to Spanish:
“This is more than a win for me — it’s a win for all Latinos who’ve worked to open doors in this country.”
He ended the monologue with a mic-drop line that instantly went viral:
“And if you didn’t understand what I just said — you have four months to learn.”
The crowd roared with laughter and applause, but not everyone found it funny.
NFL Under Fire — This Time From Inside the League
Within hours of the broadcast, Cincinnati Bengals CEO Mike Brown — one of the NFL’s longest-serving and most respected executives — broke his usual silence with a blistering statement that stunned both fans and officials.
“We want a league built on respect, not division,” Brown said in a statement released early Sunday. “When the Super Bowl Halftime Show becomes a stage for arrogance instead of unity, it hurts everyone — players, fans, and the game itself.”
He went even further, criticizing the NFL’s entertainment partner Roc Nation for allowing what he described as “a moment of cultural provocation rather than celebration.”
“We are proud of diversity in our league,” Brown continued, “but what we witnessed was not pride — it was mockery. It’s hard for athletes to focus on the integrity of competition when the league’s biggest stage is overshadowed by something this humiliating.”
The Bengals front office later confirmed that Brown had formally requested a review of the halftime show lineup, calling on the NFL to “reconsider the inclusion of artists who use the platform to antagonize fans rather than unite them.”
“We Need a Clean Game, Not Culture Wars”
In follow-up comments to Sports Illustrated, Brown expressed frustration that the NFL’s entertainment division seems “more focused on viral moments than values.”
“We need a clean game — a fair, positive space that reflects the best of what football stands for,” he said. “When halftime becomes a battleground for politics and ego, we all lose.”
Brown’s comments drew immediate attention across the league, with some executives privately agreeing that the Super Bowl Halftime Show has become increasingly “politicized.”
A former NFL commissioner, speaking anonymously, said:
“Mike Brown rarely speaks publicly, so when he does, it means something. There’s growing discomfort with how far the league has gone to chase attention instead of tradition.”
Fans Divide — Again
Social media quickly erupted following Brown’s statement. The hashtags #BanBadBunny and #RespectTheGame began trending on X within hours, while supporters of the artist countered with #StandWithBadBunny and #LatinosUnidos.
Some NFL fans applauded Brown’s comments, saying he was “standing up for sportsmanship.” Others accused him of being tone-deaf in a globalized era where football and culture naturally intersect.
“This isn’t about disrespect — it’s about representation,” wrote one fan on X. “Bad Bunny represents millions of Spanish-speaking fans who love this game too. That’s what the NFL should embrace.”
Meanwhile, conservative commentators praised Brown for “saying what others are afraid to,” framing the issue as a clash between entertainment and ethics.
The NFL Caught Between Two Fires
Inside league offices, the fallout is being closely monitored. Sources tell ESPN that Roger Goodell has been briefed on Brown’s remarks and the rising fan division, though no official statement has been released.
An insider familiar with league discussions said:
“There’s concern that this controversy could overshadow the actual Super Bowl build-up. The league wants the focus back on football, not culture wars.”
Roc Nation, which produces the halftime show, defended its choice of Bad Bunny, saying in a brief response:
“The Super Bowl stage belongs to everyone — and music is universal.”
Bad Bunny Unbothered
Despite the uproar, Bad Bunny appeared unfazed. In a brief post on X late Sunday, he wrote in Spanish:
“El respeto se gana, no se ruega — respect is earned, not begged.”
The message was reposted millions of times, with fans interpreting it as a direct response to Brown’s comments.
Meanwhile, supporters in San Juan gathered for a spontaneous celebration outside the artist’s label office, waving Puerto Rican flags and chanting, “¡Nuestro Super Bowl también!” — “Our Super Bowl too!”
What Comes Next
With less than four months before kickoff, the NFL now faces one of its most awkward PR dilemmas in years: how to honor a contract with one of the world’s biggest artists while addressing concerns from inside its own ranks.
If the Bengals CEO’s demand gains traction among other team owners, pressure could mount for the league to “suspend or replace” Bad Bunny’s halftime appearance — a move that would almost certainly ignite an even larger cultural firestorm.
For now, both sides are holding their ground.
As one commentator put it:
“Bad Bunny told America to learn Spanish. Mike Brown told the NFL to remember football. Somewhere between those two sentences lies the future of the Super Bowl.”
