When Bad Bunny took the stage as host of Saturday Night Live in October 2025, he delivered more than comedy — he delivered a cultural challenge, wrapped in humor, that has stirred debate across the United States. As part of his monologue, he switched into Spanish and addressed critics of his upcoming Super Bowl halftime show, quipping: “If you didn’t understand what I just said, you have four months to learn.”

That remark, playful but pointed, was meant as a response to a wave of backlash directed at the Puerto Rican superstar after his announcement as headliner for the 2026 Super Bowl halftime show — especially criticism centered on his predominantly Spanish-language catalog. Some saw his comment as a lighthearted dare; others viewed it as provocative or exclusionary. The reaction has underscored deeper tensions in American culture around language, identity, and representation.

Setting the Stage: The Backlash Before the Joke

When Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl booking was first revealed, it elicited criticism from some conservative commentators who questioned his “American-ness” or complained about a halftime show centered in Spanish. Some even floated the idea that English should remain the dominant — or only — language in such a major American event.

One particularly vocal critic was Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, who used Bad Bunny’s comment to argue for making English the official language of the United States. In a post on social media, she wrote:

“Bad Bunny says America has four months to learn Spanish before his perverse, unwanted performance at the Super Bowl — It would be a good time to pass my bill to make English the official language of America.”

Greene also attacked what she characterized as “demonic sexual performances” at NFL halftime shows.

Some of her remarks revived debates over cultural identity and what it means to be “American enough” to perform at a national spectacle like the Super Bowl.

Other critics also complained that a Spanish-focused performance would alienate non-Spanish speakers. Former racer Danica Patrick, for instance, opined that songs in English should not be excluded from such a high-profile broadcast.

The Monologue: A Defiant, Multilingual Response

Rather than soften or issue a preemptive apology, Bad Bunny leaned into it. During the SNL monologue, he opened in English with irony, saying, “I’m very happy to be doing the Super Bowl … I think people around the world love my music.”

But then he turned to Spanish to speak directly to Latino audiences:

“All people who have worked to open doors … our footprints and contributions in this country … no one will ever be able to take it away or erase it.”

After that, he dropped his line to skeptics:

“If you didn’t understand what I just said, you have four months to learn.”

In doing so, he reclaimed the narrative. He framed the Super Bowl moment not just as his own triumph, but as a win for Latino culture — a public acknowledgment that Spanish and Latino identity matter in the U.S. cultural landscape.

In another move of satirical layering, SNL intercut footage of conservative commentators praising him — “Bad Bunny is my favorite musician … he should be the next president” — turning criticism into absurd irony.

He also participated in comedic sketches throughout the show, further underscoring that he would not be confined to a narrow role.

Reactions: Praise, Pushback, and Cultural Commentary

Responses were as mixed as they were passionate. Many of Bad Bunny’s fans and supporters applauded his comments as a bold act of cultural assertion. Some saw the “four months” tagline as a rallying cry to learn more about Spanish and Latino contributions to U.S. society. Social media lit up with praise for his unapologetic embrace of his identity.

Some critics, however, dismissed the remark as provocative or divisive. They argued that a national event like the Super Bowl should cater to all Americans, regardless of language. Others felt the jest was too flippant given the sensitivities it touched.

Politically, the remark fueled debates about immigration, identity, and language policy. The fact that a federal representative cited it in pushing for English-only legislation highlights how a pop-culture moment can intersect with policy and identity politics.

Another controversial subplot: the suggestion by some officials that ICE agents might be present or vigilant during the Super Bowl, especially given concerns about undocumented attendees. (Some commentators conflated Bad Bunny’s use of Spanish with an assumed stance on immigration.)

It’s worth noting: Puerto Ricans are U.S. citizens, and Bad Bunny was born in Puerto Rico. Yet, paradoxically, critics treated him as an outsider.

In many ways, his SNL moment echoed past cultural flashpoints — moments when marginalized voices asserted themselves in spaces that had long been dominated by the Anglo-centric mainstream.

Stakes Beyond the Punchline

So why did that one line—“four months to learn Spanish”—garner so much attention? Because it’s a lens into deeper issues:

Language as power: In the U.S., language has often been a proxy for belonging, exclusion, and identity. A halftime show entirely in Spanish challenges assumptions about what counts as “American entertainment.”

Representation vs. assimilation: Bad Bunny’s performance and jokes resist assimilation on his terms. He’s not apologizing or translating everything; instead, he’s inviting people in — or at least demanding they try.

Cultural friction in changing demographics: The U.S. is increasingly multilingual and multicultural. Moments like this expose the tension between the old guard and the evolving cultural map.

Art as protest: Even in a comedy monologue, Bad Bunny is making a political and cultural statement. He’s rejecting erasure and insisting that Latino stories and languages have a place at the center stage.

As we count down to the Super Bowl in early 2026, all eyes will be on how Bad Bunny delivers. Will he lean further into Spanish? Will he incorporate English? How will broadcasters, sponsors, and audiences respond when a paradigm-shifting performance meets a divided public?

Regardless, that SNL joke will remain a marker — not just of a funny moment on a live show, but of a moment when a major artist challenged cultural norms, provoked conversation, and asked a simple but loaded question: What does it mean to be truly American?