AOC Dismisses Republican Criticism of Bad Bunny's Super Bowl Performance
Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) openly mocked Republican lawmakers who expressed outrage over Bad Bunny's Super Bowl halftime performance during a Tuesday night encounter in the halls of Congress. The progressive congresswoman responded to questions from journalist Nicholas A. Ballasy about the growing conservative backlash against the Puerto Rican superstar's Spanish-language set.
"I Barely Know What Trump's Saying Half the Time"
When asked about former President Donald Trump's complaint that "nobody" could understand Bad Bunny's performance, Ocasio-Cortez delivered a sharp retort. "I barely know what Trump's saying half the time, so I feel him," she told Ballasy, drawing a parallel between the language barrier and Trump's own communication style.
The exchange continued as Ocasio-Cortez addressed Arizona Representative Randy Fine's announcement that he would ask the Federal Communications Commission to investigate what he called "pornographic filth" in the halftime show. "I thought they didn't understand what he was saying!" she quipped, highlighting the apparent contradiction in Republican complaints.
Misplaced Outrage Over Lyrics
The bulk of Republican criticism appears to focus on sexually explicit lyrics in Bad Bunny's song "Safarea," a Puerto Rican expression for debauchery. However, multiple reports indicate this criticism is largely misplaced:
- The specific X-rated verse that sparked conservative outrage was not included in Sunday's Super Bowl medley
- According to translations on Genius.com, the most lurid lyrics in the recorded version aren't even performed by Bad Bunny
- Sexually suggestive lines that Bad Bunny did deliver during the performance were bleeped during the live broadcast
Cultural Pride and American Representation
During her conversation with Ballasy, Ocasio-Cortez also reflected on the personal significance of Bad Bunny's performance as a Puerto Rican American. "It just gives me so much pride to see what he did on the national stage," she said, emphasizing the cultural importance of the moment.
The congresswoman elaborated on the broader meaning of the performance: "Not only that, but really telling the story of America and all the Americas." She described the halftime show as "incredibly inspiring and fun and joyful in a time that people find very challenging," highlighting its positive impact amid current difficulties.
The incident underscores ongoing cultural and political divisions in American society, with Bad Bunny's performance becoming an unexpected flashpoint in congressional discourse about representation, language, and artistic expression on national platforms.
