News - Bad Bunny Tackles Super Bowl Halftime Show Backlash In SNL Season 51 Premiere!

Saturday Night Live is back, baby, and so is Bad Bunny. The Puerto Rican rapper returned to hosting duties for the season 51 premiere on Saturday and addressed the Super Bowl-sized elephant in the room. During his opening monologue, the 31-year-old celebrated returning to the Studio 8H stage for his second time hosting and his fourth time overall. But unlike his last hosting in season 49, he did not double as the musical guest this time. He had just finished a 31-show residency in Puerto Rico, kicks off his Debí Tirar Más Fotos World Tour next month, and needed a rest before his upcoming gig, the Super Bowl Halftime Show. During his monologue, the Tití Me Preguntó rapper addressed the backlash to him being named the 2026 Halftime Show performer. He said he was very happy, and that everyone is happy about it, even Fox News. The show then cut to an edited clip of several Fox News reporters saying just one word, which when cut together formed a funny finish: Bad Bunny is my favorite musician, and he should be the next President. On a more serious note, Bunny, born Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, added that he is very excited to be doing the Super Bowl, and that the people all around the world who love his music are also happy. He then switched to his native Spanish to send a strong message to critics. In English, he said that Latinos and Latinas in the United States who have worked to open doors, it’s more than a win for me, it’s a win for all of us; our footprints and our contribution in this country will never be taken away or erased. Say it louder! Switching back to English, the Dakiti rapper joked that if you didn’t understand what he said, you have four months to learn. Watch his full monologue below. We love it! Since Bad Bunny didn’t serve as musical guest this time around, Doja Cat joined the premiere to fill the role. First up, she performed AAAHH MEN! from her new album Vie. She followed up with another new song, Gorgeous. Incredible. You can check out the rest of the show’s highlights below. Reactions, Perezcious readers? What did you think of Bad Bunny’s monologue, especially his message to critics? Are you excited for his Super Bowl LX Halftime Show performance? Let us know in the comments down below! Images via NBC/YouTube.