Bill Maher Issues Blunt Takedown of Republican Response to Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl Halftime Show
What To Know
- Bill Maher criticized Republicans for their negative reaction to Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl Halftime Show.
- Maher joked that not understanding the lyrics didn’t prevent him from enjoying the show.
- Despite criticism from figures like Donald Trump, Bad Bunny’s halftime show drew 128.2 million viewers.
Bill Maher issued a blunt takedown of Republicans’ response to Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl Halftime Show.
On the Friday, February 13 episode of Real Time With Bill Maher, the late-night host, 70, weighed in on Bad Bunny’s record-breaking performance.
“A lot of conservative America is very butt-hurt these days. They’re still recovering from the halftime show,” Maher joked during the opening monologue.
Maher pointed out, of Republicans’ response to the Puerto Rican superstar, 31, “They hated it because it was in Spanish. But now they’re pretending to hate because it was smutty. And it was sexual, very overtly sexual, with dirty lyrics. Well, what do you expect? He’s not called Good Bunny.”
He continued: “[President Donald ]Trump said, ‘Nobody could understand a word the guy said.’ I never understood a word Mick Jagger said either, but I still enjoyed his show.”
Although Maher admitted that he couldn’t understand Bad Bunny’s all-Spanish halftime show, he said that didn’t stop him from enjoying it. “I looked at it like Olympic curling,” Maher said. “I had no idea what the f*** was happening. But I was like, ‘Everyone looks like they’re having fun. F*** it, I’m in.”
Shortly after Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl Halftime Show ended on Sunday, February 8, Trump, 79, took to Truth Social with his review of the performance.
“The Super Bowl Halftime Show is absolutely terrible, one of the worst, EVER!” the POTUS declared. “It makes no sense, is an affront to the Greatness of America, and doesn’t represent our standards of Success, Creativity, or Excellence.”
Trump added, “Nobody understands a word this guy is saying, and the dancing is disgusting, especially for young children that are watching from throughout the U.S.A., and all over the World.”
Official ratings for Bad Bunny’s performance showed it averaged 128.2 million viewers between 8:15 and 8:30 p.m. ET, falling short of Kendrick Lamar‘s record-setting 133.5 million in 2025. Meanwhile, 5 million tuned in to Turning Point USA’s “All-American Halftime Show” performer Kid Rock.
Real Time With Bill Maher, Fridays at 10/9c, HBO
Conversation9 Comments
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This 73 y.o. white guy didn't understand most of the dialog and lyrics, but it was interesting to follow the subtitles and glean a lot of meaning from the limited Spanish I could discern with the context of the set and action. And it was exceptionally staged and performed with a heavy context of culture, family, and celebration.
Funny, again, how Bone Spurs and his Magaloids give in to their blatant racist attitudes and declare the Puerto Ricans "un-American," lol. What isn't un-American, apparently, is their abject ignorance and co-opting of the same whiny victimhood they've always accused the lefties of having. What a bunch of dickless wonders.
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Read the translated lyrics, grandpa. If you think they’re acceptable for prime time—& children—you’re lost. (Let alone dudes grinding)
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H. Villa Lobos come on, who cares if dudes are grinding. Kick Rock any better? Your lost sir. If you don't like it, snowflakes change the channel.
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Yet the DOJ (maybe FCC) investigation found nothing wrong with his performance...so the lyrics must have been fine
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I have Hispanic friends that speak fluent Spanish tell me that they couldn't understand what this Bad Bunny character was saying. I personally didn't find it all that entertaining, nor did I find the other Half Time show that stimulating (yes I recorded it). However I did understand the English lyrics.
The Bad Bunny performance wasn't the Star Spangled event most Americans want to see. Perhaps the NFL should find someone other that Jay-Z to do the selections. The past few Super Bowl performances have been MEH. The one thing did find entertaining about Bad Bunny's performance was all the people dressed up as trees. Imaging if the performance lasted more like an hour :)
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3 of the 5 shows under Jay Z have shattered viewership records. He's exceeded the NFL's expectations and he's not going anywhere.
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@BigSam,
Every Halftime Show is not going to be your cup of tea. I recalled a few snooze fests including Maroon 5 and Coldplay so maybe the next few shows will be more to your liking. If not, then use your remote and turn off the tv or turn the channel. I am tired of the little snowflakes melted over something that they don’t have to endure. God Bless America and God Bless the Constitution!
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And Bill Maher should be the last word on this Half Time Show featuring Bad Bunny.
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What a liar Bill is!
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