A handful of Republican congressmen are calling for an investigation into Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl LX halftime show, with one lawmaker describing the performance as “explicit and indecent.”
Tennessee Rep. Andy Ogles sent a letter to the House Energy and Commerce Committee on Monday, Feb. 9, urging a “formal congressional inquiry” into the NFL and NBCUniversal over their review and approval process for the Apple Music Super Bowl LX halftime show.
In a post on X, Ogles, 54, labeled the performance “pure smut,” alleging that it included sexually explicit content and provocative dancing. He also claimed the lyrics promoted graphic sexual behavior and argued that such material should not be broadcast on public airwaves.
In the letter addressed to Kentucky Rep. Brett Guthrie, the Republican chair of the Energy and Commerce Committee, Ogles said the songs performed are “widely known for explicit sexual references” and that the show featured “sexualized movements,” including twerking, grinding, pelvic thrusts, and other suggestive conduct.
The letter also argues that the halftime show—performed predominantly in Spanish—was not held to the same content standards as English-language performances, claiming the sexual nature of the lyrics was still apparent regardless of language. Ogles asked the committee, which oversees broadcast regulation and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), to examine how translations were handled and how the performance was approved.
Florida Rep. Randy Fine and Missouri Rep. Mark Alford also criticized the performance and suggested the FCC should take action. Fine wrote on X that the show was illegal due to explicit content and said he and others planned to send a letter to FCC chairman Brendan Carr seeking penalties, including fines and reviews of broadcast licenses for the NFL, NBC, and Bad Bunny.
Alford, speaking to Newsmax, compared the controversy to the fallout from the Janet Jackson “wardrobe malfunction,” suggesting it could be even more significant.
The dispute arrives amid broader debate over what is considered acceptable for the Super Bowl’s massive audience. It also echoes earlier controversies involving Latino performers. After Jennifer Lopez and Shakira headlined the Super Bowl LIV halftime show in 2020, the FCC received 1,312 complaints from viewers across 49 states, according to WFAA. By contrast, the year before, Maroon 5’s Adam Levine drew far fewer complaints after performing shirtless.
Bad Bunny’s halftime show averaged 128.2 million views, making it the fourth most-watched halftime show of all time, according to ESPN, trailing Kendrick Lamar’s 2025 performance, Michael Jackson’s 1993 appearance, and Usher’s 2024 show.
In response to the NFL’s selection, Turning Point USA organized a separate, competing “All American Halftime Show” in protest, headlined by Kid Rock. The organization said the event drew 6.1 million views as of Sunday, Feb. 8, according to a spokesperson.
