The FCC Quickly Reaches a Decision On Bad Bunny’s ‘Indecent’ Super Bowl Halftime Show

Photo Credit: Bad Bunny for Apple Music

Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl halftime show was investigated — or at least glanced over — by the FCC for potential violations of rules prohibiting ‘indecent material’ on public airwaves.

Following complaints lodged by several far-right politicians over Puerto Rican superstar Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl Halftime Show, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has completed its very brief investigation into potential violations of its rules prohibiting “indecent material” and offensive language on public airwaves.

Perhaps ‘investigation’ is a bit of a stretch, though something was apparently reviewed.

According to the FCC, the performance and the songs included therein (“Tití Me Preguntó,” “Monaco,” and “Safaera”) were censored to omit lyrics that include references to genitalia and sex acts. Had those lyrics not been scrubbed, the show could have violated FCC rules that ban profanity and so-called obscenity during primetime hours. Ultimately, the agency has “shelved any additional scrutiny barring further evidence,” according to details now trickling out from the Washington agency.

The 31-year-old artist, whose real name is Benito Antonio Martinez Ocasio, sparked controversy from the moment he was announced as this year’s Super Bowl halftime show headliner. President Trump and many far-right politicians and pundits decried the selection as “un-American,” despite the fact that Puerto Rico is an American territory.

Bad Bunny also took aim at the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement agenda during his acceptance speech at the Grammy Awards. His halftime performance followed up on that theme with depictions of Latin American life and flags of the various countries that make up the Americas.

The NFL has been making a concerted effort to expand into the Latin American market, which makes their choice (made alongside Jay-Z’s Roc Nation) of Bad Bunny an obvious one. But no sooner had the performance aired than several GOP politicians were pearl-clutching over it.

“The woke garbage we witnessed on Super Bowl Sunday needs to be investigated and put to an end,” wrote Congressman Randy Fine (R-FL) in a letter to FCC Chairman Brendan Carr. “There is no reason that over 130 million people—including children—should have been exposed to the vulgar and disgusting content of the 2026 Super Bowl halftime show.”

The outcry is ironic; following the Spanish-language performance, Trump himself claimed, “Nobody understands a word this guy is saying.” But once the FCC translated what was actually said, the evidence supporting any alleged indecency was flimsy.