A group of Republican lawmakers is calling for an investigation into Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl LX halftime show, arguing that the performance contained content they believe was inappropriate for broadcast television.
Rep. Andy Ogles of Tennessee sent a letter on Monday, Feb. 9, to the House Energy and Commerce Committee requesting a “formal congressional inquiry” into the NFL and NBCUniversal, focusing on how the performance was reviewed and approved.
In a post on X, Ogles described the show in harsh terms and claimed that viewers, including children, were exposed to sexually explicit material. He also alleged the lyrics promoted illegal conduct and argued that such content should not have aired.
In his letter to Rep. Brett Guthrie of Kentucky, the Republican chair of the committee, Ogles said the songs performed are “widely known for explicit sexual references” and cited what he characterized as sexually suggestive choreography. He further contended that because the show was performed primarily in Spanish, it may not have been held to the same content standards as English-language performances, adding that the sexual nature of the lyrics was “readily apparent” regardless of language.
Ogles asked the committee — which has jurisdiction over broadcast regulation and oversight of the Federal Communications Commission — to examine the show’s translation and approval processes.
Florida Rep. Randy Fine and Missouri Rep. Mark Alford also criticized the performance and suggested the FCC should become involved. Fine wrote on X that the show was “illegal” because of explicit content and said he and others planned to contact FCC chairman Brendan Carr, calling for actions such as fines and broadcast license reviews against the NFL and NBC. Alford told Newsmax, “This could be much worse than the Janet Jackson wardrobe malfunction.”
PEOPLE previously reported that Bad Bunny’s 13-minute halftime show featured a celebratory dance-party atmosphere centered on his biggest hits, included nods to Puerto Rican culture, highlighted challenges faced by the U.S. territory, and even incorporated a real wedding. The performance ended with a message of unity across the Americas and a billboard that read, “The Only Thing More Powerful Than Hate is Love.”
The criticism — including comments from President Donald Trump, who had previously expressed frustration with the NFL’s selection — is not the first time a Latino performer has faced scrutiny over a Super Bowl halftime show.
After the Super Bowl LIV performance in 2020 featuring Jennifer Lopez and Shakira, the FCC received 1,312 complaints from viewers in 49 states, with nearly 140 originating from Texas, according to WFAA. Some complaints said the performance was not “appropriate” because of the amount of skin shown, and one described it as “100 percent about sex and NOT even remotely family-friendly.”
The year before that, when Maroon 5’s Adam Levine removed his shirt during the halftime show, only 50 complaints were filed.
Bad Bunny’s halftime performance averaged 128.2 million views, making it the fourth-most-watched Super Bowl halftime show of all time, behind Kendrick Lamar’s in 2025, Michael Jackson’s in 1993, and Usher’s in 2024, ESPN reported.
Turning Point USA — the conservative advocacy organization founded by Charlie Kirk and currently led by his wife, Erika — also organized a competing halftime show in protest of the NFL’s selection. The “All American Halftime Show,” headlined by Kid Rock, drew 6.1 million views as of Sunday, Feb. 8, according to a spokesperson for the organization.
