Bad Bunny clapped back at critics of his Super Bowl Halftime Show performance during the Oct. 4 episode of SNL

“I’m very happy, and I think everyone is happy about it — even Fox News,” the rapper joked

Bad Bunny will take the stage at Super Bowl LX at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., in February

Bad Bunny has no time for the haters.

During his opening monologue as he hosted Saturday Night Live on Oct. 4, the rapper, 31, clapped back at critics of his Super Bowl Halftime Show performance.

“I’m very happy, and I think everyone is happy about it — even Fox News,” he first teased, before various clips spliced together from the network’s shows played, stating, “Bad Bunny is my favorite musician, and he should be the next president.”

“But really, I’m very excited to be doing the Super Bowl, and I know that people all around the world who love my music are also happy,” Bad Bunny continued, then adding in Spanish, “Especially all of the Latinos and Latinas in the world here in the United States who have worked to open doors. It’s more than a win for myself, it’s a win for all of us. Our footprints and our contribution in this country, no one will ever be able to take that away or erase it.”

Closing out the segment, the “Ojitos Lindos” musician poked fun at complaints about his music being in Spanish, and how the halftime show would be too, stating, “If you didn’t understand what I just said. You have four months to learn.”

Bad Bunny, born Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, was announced as the halftime show performer on Sept. 28. Super Bowl LX will take place at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., in February.

The artist spoke about the gig in an X post that day, writing, “I’ve been thinking about it these days, and after discussing it with my team, I think I’ll do just one date in the United States.”

The statement was a reference to his decision to skip touring the country for his Debí Tirar Más Fotos World Tour, due to President Donald Trump’s use of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) for immigration crackdown.

Corey Lewandowski, a top adviser on Trump’s 2016 and 2024 campaigns who now supports the Department of Homeland Security, spoke about how ICE will be at the big game during a recent appearance on The Benny Show with Benny Johnson.

“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 you and apprehend you and put you in a detention facility and deport you,” Lewandowski said. “So know that is a very real situation under this administration, which is contrary to how it used to be.”

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem echoed similar sentiments on the podcast days later, stating, “I have the responsibility for making sure everybody who goes to the Super Bowl has the opportunity to enjoy it and to leave, and that’s what America is about.”

In a statement after he was announced as performer for the halftime show, which is sponsored by Apple Music, Bad Bunny said, ““What I’m feeling goes beyond myself. It’s for those who came before me and ran countless yards so I could come in and score a touchdown.”

“This is for my people, my culture, and our history. Ve y dile a tu abuela, que seremos el HALFTIME SHOW DEL SUPER BOWL,” he added.

The most recent halftime show performer was Kendrick Lamar, whose set included guest appearances from SZA, Samuel L. Jackson, Serena Williams and Mustard. It became the most-viewed halftime show performance.

Other halftime show performers in recent years have included Usher in 2024 and Rihanna in 2023. Back in 2022, Lamar, 38, appeared for a headlining set alongside Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem and Mary J. Blige.

Super Bowl LX will air on Sunday, Feb. 8.

Read the original article on People