Bad Bunny May Not Need A Passport, But He Does Need Perspective

This week, NFL fans launched a petition to have an alternate Super Bowl halftime show featuring country singer George Strait. 66,000 signatures so far. Roger Goodell, however, is not moved. It’s all in response to the NFL tapping Puerto Rican rapper Bad Bunny for America’s largest stage, giving a platform to a man who openly hates America.

But not all Puerto Ricans share Bad Bunny’s sentiment. Samuel Rodriguez is a pastor of Puerto Rican descent who has advised three U.S. Presidents, been a prolific author and movie producer, and has a much different outlook on the United States. In fact, he says the rapper doesn’t come close to representing traditional Hispanic values. It’s certainly worth your time. —The Editors

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As an American of Puerto Rican descent, I live in tension. I admire Bad Bunny. He is a generational talent, creative, charismatic, and relentless. He rose from the barrios of Vega Baja to the summit of global culture. He did not inherit wealth or privilege. He succeeded through determination, resilience, and hard work. Even those who do not understand his lyrics recognize his artistry and marketing brilliance. He has become a global symbol of Latino influence.

My admiration, however, stops there. As the world prepares to watch his Super Bowl halftime show next February, my heart aches. For all his brilliance, Bad Bunny misunderstands both Puerto Rico and America. His refusal to stand for “God Bless America” during the Major League Baseball playoffs at Yankee Stadium was not an act of protest, it was a moment of detachment. Millions of us who cherish both the island and the mainland felt that sting. We love America; We appreciate its Christian foundation, promise, and opportunity. Simply stated, we believe God has blessed this nation.

Unfortunately, much of what Bad Bunny stands for and espouses in his music not only fails to resonate with many Hispanics in America, but it also fails to honor and understand the community’s deep love for this country.

Kevin Mazur/Peacock via Getty Images

I will be the first to acknowledge that America is not perfect. But despite that, it remains blessed. This nation is not anti-immigrant. It supports legal immigration.

Hispanics know this better than anyone. Many of us lived that journey or watched our parents walk it. We support borders and order not out of cruelty but out of conviction. We believe in compassion expressed through law. Nearly half of Hispanic voters supported President Trump in 2024. More than half of Hispanic men did the same. That was not betrayal. It reflected deeply held values.

These traditional Hispanic values — faith, family, and freedom — stand in contrast to much of what Bad Bunny promotes. His embrace of transgender ideology and sexually explicit performances does not represent the Latino family gathered around the table after Sunday church. We love God. We honor family. We understand freedom as responsibility, not rebellion. The Latino vote has not drifted to the Right, it has returned home to convictions that have always defined us.

Hispanics also see dissonance in Bad Bunny’s condemnation of capitalism, given that he lives from its blessings. He has praised socialist regimes such as Venezuela, yet his success story could not exist without the free market. He thrives in a system that rewards risk, creativity, and persistence. One cannot criticize capitalism while enjoying everything it provides.

The Hispanic future in America is not secular, cynical, or socialist. It is spiritual, hopeful, and devoted to freedom. We pray. We protect our families. We work hard. We still believe that God blesses nations that honor Him.

But before all of this, Bad Bunny must recognize one fundamental truth: He is an American. Every Puerto Rican is. We are born citizens of the United States. We do not need a passport to enter this nation, but we do need humility to understand what a privilege that is.

Bad Bunny may not need a passport, but he needs perspective. He needs humility. He needs clarity about what America truly represents for Puerto Ricans and for every dreamer who still believes this country offers the chance to rise.

America is not flawless. Yet it remains the most transformative and opportunity-rich nation in human history. My prayer is that when Bad Bunny steps onto that stage, gratitude will replace defiance — gratitude for a nation that gave a kid from Puerto Rico the chance to conquer the world.

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Samuel Rodriguez is the lead pastor of New Season and president of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference (NHCLC). Rodriguez has advised three U.S. Presidents and is the first Latino to participate in multiple presidential inauguration ceremonies. He is also a best-selling author of 12 books and serves as producer of 7 faith-based films including “Breakthrough,” “Flamin Hot,” and “Dream King.”

The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.

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