dq. “You Have Four Months to Learn” — Bad Bunny Fires Back at Super Bowl Halftime Critics on SNL
During his opening monologue as host of Saturday Night Live, Puerto Rican superstar Bad Bunny responded with sharp humor to the backlash surrounding his announcement as the headliner for the the 2026 Super Bowl Halftime Show — going so far as to tell critics, in front of millions of viewers, “You have four months to learn” Spanish. Axios+3EW.com+3People.com+3
A Monologue With Purpose
The comedy stage was never just for jokes on this night. Bad Bunny used his SNL moment to address a wave of criticism aimed at his performance, many of which centered on complaints that he would sing in Spanish rather than English. E! Online+4People.com+4The Washington Post+4
After opening in English with a humorous jab — “I’m very happy, and I think everyone is happy about it — even Fox News” — the show cut to a montage of media clips edited to appear as though pundits were praising him. EW.com+2The Washington Post+2 He then shifted into Spanish, giving a tribute to Latino communities, saying (in translation) that the performance was more than personal — it was symbolic of contributions and perseverance that should not be erased. Teen Vogue+3The Washington Post+3People.com+3
He closed by returning to English:
“If you didn’t understand what I just said, you have four months to learn.” Axios+4People.com+4EW.com+4
Political Pushback & Cultural Context
Bad Bunny’s selection as the halftime show artist drew strong reactions from some conservative voices. Complaints ranged from demands that the performance include English lyrics, to attacks on his identity and cultural role. KCRA+6The Washington Post+6People.com+6
Some critics even questioned his “Americanness,” despite Puerto Ricans being U.S. citizens by birth. The Guardian+4The Washington Post+4Le Monde.fr+4 Meanwhile, government officials hinted at stricter immigration enforcement at the Super Bowl, with calls for ICE presence — an especially charged issue as Bad Bunny has previously voiced concerns about his fans being vulnerable to immigration actions at concerts. Le Monde.fr+5The Guardian+5The Washington Post+5
By contrast, many across social media and cultural commentary praised his confident rebuttal, seeing the moment as both a dose of levity and a statement about representation, linguistic pride, and pushing back on exclusionary demands. People.com+3Teen Vogue+3EW.com+3
Looking Ahead to February
The Super Bowl LX halftime performance is set for February 8, 2026, at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California. EW.com+3People.com+3Le Monde.fr+3 Bad Bunny has promised the show will exceed expectations, with purpose behind every creative decision. E! Online+2People.com+2
In the months between now and showtime, his SNL monologue may become one of the most quoted and replayed moments — not just for the humor, but for the challenge. Whether critics take him up on his four-month “assignment” remains to be seen — but one thing’s clear: the stage is set, language and politics included.
