Back in 2022, he became the first artist to have an all-Spanish album – Un Verano Sin Ti – hit number one on the US Billboard chart.
He’s also a three-time Grammy winner and ranked as the third most-streamed artist globally in 2024.
Music mogul Jay-Z, whose company Roc Nation produces the iconic half-time show, said what Bad Bunny has ‘done and continues to do for Puerto Rico is truly inspiring,’ adding: « We are honoured to have him on the world’s biggest stage. »
Despite his international success, Bad Bunny has skipped the US on his upcoming, 57-date Debí Tirar Más Fotos World Tour, which kicks off on November 21, 2025 in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.
He visits Latin America, then Asia and Oceania, before a final stint across Europe with the tour concluded in Brussels, Belgium at the King Baudouin Stadium on July 22, 2026.
But there are no US tour dates in his jam-packed schedule.
Bad Bunny previously told i-D magazine that he feared that ICE officers would raid the stadiums he was performing at.
« There were many reasons why I didn’t show up in the US, and none of them were out of hate – I’ve performed there many times, » he explained.
« People from the US could come here to see the show. Latinos and Puerto Ricans of the United States could also travel here, or to any part of the world.
« But there was the issue of – that, like, f**king ICE could be outside [my concert venue]. And it’s something that we were talking about and very concerned about. »
And it wasn’t the first time he spoke out about ICE operations, which have ramped up under president Donald Trump.
Back in June, the singer took to Instagram to criticize agents in Puerto Rico for not ‘leaving these people working here alone’.
And on Tuesday (September 23), the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) confirmed that two million ‘illegal aliens’ have been ‘removed or have self-deported’ since Trump’s inauguration on January 20.
Among them, more than 400,000 have been deported and 1.6 million have ‘self-deported,’ as per the DHS.
Almost 600,000 ‘illegal aliens’ are set to have been deported by the end of Trump’s first year back in office, which, if realized, would be the highest annual deportation total in recent US history.
ICE deported 271,484 people in the fiscal year ending September 30; nearly double the prior year.
It was the agency’s highest tally since 2014, when 315,943 people were removed.
Several earthquakes shook the San Francisco Bay Area on Monday morning (February 2) as the county expects to welcome 1.3 million Super Bowl fans this week.
The strongest was a 4.2-magnitude quake near San Ramon just after 7am, following a 3.8 quake about half an hour earlier, and another 3.8 quake at 7.30am, according to the US Geological Survey.
In total, as many as 20 small quakes were recorded across the region.
Some people felt the shaking in downtown San Francisco, where Sunday’s Super Bowl activities will get underway, but there are no reports of major damage or serious injuries.
The Bay Area is gearing up for a huge Super Bowl week, with more than 1.3 million fans expected to take part in festivities and related events around the region.
Previously, San Francisco International Airport director Mike Nakornkhet told ABC 7 News: « We’re forecasting 1.3 million travelers from February 1 through 10, so we expect big days around the big game to be busy like holidays. »
The New England Patriots will take on the Seattle Seahawks at Levi’s Stadium on Sunday (February 8).
But the Moscone Center is also the star of the show, with build-up taking place for the huge game there throughout the week.
Grammy-winning Puerto Rican rapper Bad Bunny will be heading up the prestigious halftime show, while American rock band Green Day will also be making an appearance.
Though notably absent from Sunday’s game will be President Donald Trump, who is refusing to attend this year.
He made his thoughts on the halftime show acts clear, telling the New York Post he is ‘anti-them,’ adding: « I think it’s a terrible choice. All it does is sow hatred. Terrible. »
He also slammed the location, adding: “It’s just too far away. I would. I’ve [gotten] great hands [at] the Super Bowl. They like me.
“I would go if, you know, it was a little bit shorter.”
Bad Bunny was among the artists who slammed ICE at the Grammys on Sunday night amid intensified raids under Trump.
While collecting his award for Best Música Urbana Album, Bad Bunny said: “Before I say thanks to God, I’m gonna say ‘ICE OUT’. We’re not savage, we’re not animals, we’re not aliens, we’re Americans.
“Also I wanna say to the people; I know it’s tough not to hate on these – and I was thinking sometimes we get contaminos, I don’t know how to say that in English.
« The hate gets more powerful, with more hate, the only thing more powerful than hate is love.
« So please, we need be different, if we fight we have to do it with love; if we don’t hate them, we love our people we love our family and that’s the way to do it, don’t forget that.”
Following the latest shooting in Minneapolis, the Department of Homeland Security has issued a statement about their presence at the upcoming Super Bowl.
Anti-ICE protests and sentiments have erupted following the shooting of Alex Pretti over the weekend, which came just weeks after mother-of-three Renee Good was also fatally shot by a federal agent.
Videos have shown how the 37-year-old ICU nurse was shot and killed after a brief interaction with federal immigration agents.
Social media videos from multiple angles show Pretti attempting to help a woman up after she had been pushed to the floor by agents, before he was tackled to the ground by multiple agents and pepper sprayed.
He was then fatally shot while still on the ground.
Pretti’s parents have slammed Donald Trump’s administration for their version of events, claiming they are ‘sickening lies’ while maintaining their son was clearly holding and brandishing his cell phone, rather than his legally owned firearm.
The death of both American citizens has caused an outrage with many claiming that ICE overreacted in both situations.
This has led to concerns that there could be protests or tension between ICE and federal agents if they are out in force at Super Bowl LX in Santa Clara, California, on Feb. 8
ICE’s message to Super Bowl fans
The Department of Homeland Security’s assistant secretary, Tricia McLaughlin, has issued a statement to TMZ about their plans to ensure safety at the sporting event.
She said: “The Department of Homeland Security is committed to working with our local and federal partners to ensure the Super Bowl is safe for everyone involved, as we do with every major sporting event, including the World Cup.
“Our mission remains unchanged. Those who are here legally and are not breaking other laws have nothing to fear.
“We will not disclose future operations or discuss personnel. Super Bowl security will entail a whole of government response conducted in-line with the U.S. Constitution.”
Last year, DHS adviser Corey Lewandowski made it clear that ICE would be operating at the Super Bowl on a ‘directive from the president’.
Speaking on The Benny Show podcast, Lewandowski said: “There is nowhere you can provide safe haven to people who are in this country illegally.
“Not the Super Bowl and nowhere else. We will find and deport you. That is a very real situation. »
