Bad Bunny might be gearing up for the biggest performance of his career at next year’s Super Bowl, but right now, he’s making headlines in New York for a completely different reason and not everyone’s happy about it.
The Puerto Rican superstar, whose real name is Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, attended Tuesday night’s New York Yankees playoff game against the Toronto Blue Jays. It was an electric night in the Bronx. The Yankees made a dramatic comeback win, the crowd was wild, and Bad Bunny had one of the best seats in the house. However, while fans were cheering for the team, others were focused on something else entirely. The moment Bad Bunny stayed seated during the traditional rendition of “God Bless America” in the seventh inning stretch, per Daily Mail.
At every Yankees home game, it’s customary for the crowd to stand as a veteran is honored and the song is performed. But Footage showed Bad Bunny remaining in his seat during the song, and that was all it took for social media to erupt. Within hours, X was flooded with angry comments, some calling his actions disrespectful and un-American.
Bad Bunny Angers Fans By Refusing To Stand For ‘God Bless America’ At New York Yankees Game
“He acts like this because he can,” one upset fan wrote. Another added, “Bad Bunny sits down during God Bless America at the Yankees game and he’s the one chosen for the Super Bowl halftime show?? Really? Count me out.” Another said, “All he has is controversy.”
And just like that, the New York moment turned into a nationwide debate. Some critics even linked the incident to politics, claiming it showed what they called “disregard for American values.” Others used it as fuel to reignite frustration over his upcoming Super Bowl halftime show a gig that’s already been controversial since it was announced.
The uproar also comes on the heels of President Donald Trump publicly blasting the NFL’s decision to book Bad Bunny for the February show in Santa Clara, California. “I never heard of him, I don’t know who he is, I don’t know why they’re doing it. It’s like crazy,” Trump said in a Newsmax interview, accusing the league of making a political statement.
Bad Bunny Backlash Is Just Getting Started
Still, Bad Bunny didn’t appear phased by the backlash. The 31-year-old performer enjoyed the rest of his night in the Bronx, even catching a foul ball hit by Blue Jays first baseman Anthony Santander, a moment fans at the game cheered for, even if the internet wasn’t as kind later.
And just days before the controversy, the “Tití Me Preguntó” singer addressed his critics while hosting Saturday Night Live. During his opening monologue, he joked, “You might not know this but I’m doing the Super Bowl halftime show and I’m very happy — and I think everyone is happy about it. Even Fox News.” He then played a hilarious edited clip of pundits seemingly praising him, reminding everyone that he knows exactly how to handle haters.
Whether his decision to stay seated in New York was intentional or not, Bad Bunny’s every move is under a microscope right now. Between political comments, viral videos, and fan backlash, it seems his road to the Super Bowl stage won’t be without controversy.
Emma Taylor 
Kenna Raye 
Dylan Cook 
