Florida Republican Representative Randy Fine lashed out on Monday
against Bad Bunny's performance during the Super Bowl LX halftime show,
expressing strong disapproval of the show's content. The legislator described
the performance as "repugnant" and "inappropriate," even
going so far as to call it "illegal," arguing that it violated moral
principles and standards that, in his view, should be respected at a
family-friendly, nationally focused event.
Fine not only expressed his discontent but also demanded
"drastic measures" against the NFL and the networks responsible for
broadcasting the game, suggesting that both the league and its commercial
partners would face sanctions for allowing the show to air. His statements
opened a new front in the debate about the limits of content presented as art,
but not art, at major sporting events.
Following the concert at Levi’s Stadium, criticism from
conservative sectors and citizens intensified. Other members of the Republican
Party joined the controversy, escalating their demands and proposing
punishments ranging from financial penalties to more extreme measures, such as
the singer's deportation.
However, these latter demands lack legal basis, as Bad Bunny
is a U.S. citizen by birth, making any attempt at expulsion from the country
legally impossible. This situation highlighted that much of the controversy
stems from citizens' complaints about low-quality performances staged in front
of American children and young people. It is also linked to a cultural
perspective that citizens are defending against what they perceive as a lack of
artistic expression, instead relegated to the role of entertainment in highly
visible public spaces.