Roger Goodell defends Bad Bunny for Super Bowl halftime show
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell defends decision to have Bad Bunny as Super Bowl halftime performer, recognizing his international fame.
Bad Bunny’s hot streak is straight up blazing at this point.
The Grammy-winning reggaeton superstar, who is set to headline the Super Bowl halftime show in February, had a big night at the 2025 Billboard Latin Music Awards on Thursday, Oct. 23. The Puerto Rican singer (real name: Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio) took home 11 awards, the biggest haul at the ceremony, including artist of the year, Hot Latin Songs male artist of the year, streaming song of the year and top Latin album of the year.
To top it off, Bad Bunny also received the career achievement award of top Latin artist of the 21st century. Actress and fellow Latin icon Rita Moreno presented him with the honor.
“When I started my career, being Latino in the United States meant facing barriers, prejudices and many closed doors. Opportunities were few, almost non-existent, and every small step forward was a victory,” Moreno, 93, said in Spanish. Best known for her role as Anita in 1961’s “West Side Story,” Moreno was the first Hispanic woman to win an Academy Award.
“Today, I see an artist who brings to the entire world that same strength, that same passion that helped me never give up,” Moreno continued. “It moves me from the bottom of my heart, Benito, to present you with the Billboard Latin artist of the 21st century award.”
2025 has proven to be a banner year for Bad Bunny. Aside from his Super Bowl halftime show selection, the singer released his sixth album “Debí Tirar Más Fotos” in January, which spawned a two-month residency in his native Puerto Rico and earned him 12 nominations at the Latin Grammy Awards in November. He is scheduled to start his Debí Tirar Más Fotos World Tour next month.
On the acting front, Bad Bunny starred alongside Austin Butler and Griffin Dunne in the crime thriller “Caught Stealing” and appeared in the Adam Sandler film “Happy Gilmore 2.” The Latin juggernaut also flexed his comedic muscles when he hosted “Saturday Night Live” for the second time earlier this month.
Bad Bunny delivers emotional speech at Billboard Latin Music Awards
Bad Bunny didn’t need to prepare a speech to speak from his corazón.
As the singer received the Latin artist of the 21st century award from Rita Moreno, Bad Bunny gushed to the EGOT icon, “I respect you a lot. I admire you a lot, wow.”
“Every time I hear other artists express themselves that way about me, it gives me the confidence that being myself and doing the things I do from the heart will always be a great decision,” Bad Bunny said in Spanish. “Because that’s all I’ve done since day one, discovering who I am and what I represent.”
Bad Bunny added that he was accepting the honor “with pride” because “I know how hard I’ve worked, not only myself, but everyone on my team.”
“I’m aware that this award could have been for any of the artists here tonight who have also contributed to Latin music, who have inspired me, who are why I’m here,” the singer said. “And those who are dreaming of being here, I will always identify with those artists because I consider myself a young man who continues to dream, with many goals and things to do.”
