FCC complaints – The FCC released hundreds of complaints tied to Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl halftime, with many citing vulgarity, Spanish lyrics, and on-screen dancing.
A flood of complaints about Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl halftime performance reached the FCC, where hundreds of messages homed in on accusations of “vulgar” content, the decision to sing in Spanish, and what some viewers described as sexually suggestive dancing.
Even before the artist stepped onto the field. the halftime show had already sparked backlash. with MAGA influencers focusing on Bad Bunny’s comments criticizing Immigration and Customs Enforcement and on his choice to sing in Spanish.. After the performance—watched by more than 128 million people—criticism did not fade. and many of the submissions to the FCC centered on indecency concerns.
After a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request from WIRED. the Federal Communications Commission released details showing it received 2. 155 complaints related to the Super Bowl.. Most were directed at the halftime show itself, rather than other elements of the broadcast.. A sizable share of the complaints claimed the broadcast content should have been in English. while others framed the issue as indecency in the Spanish lyrics.. Some viewers also said they were uncomfortable with the dancing they saw on screen.
One viewer from Leighton. Alabama. wrote that Bad Bunny performed the lyrics live without apparent censorship. adding that dancers engaged in movements described as “perreo-intense” grinding. hip thrusting. and twerking meant to mirror the lyrics.. The viewer said the cameras captured close-ups that made the gestures feel more explicit, including pelvic motions and suggestive contact.
Other complaints tied the language and comprehension gap to family concerns.. Some viewers argued that their children understood Spanish and that they did not want kids hearing the lyrics.. At least one complaint from Indiana said the viewer did not speak Spanish. but later looked up translations and became upset after understanding what was being sung.
FCC complaint data also showed geographic concentrations. WIRED’s analysis of the complaints found the top three states for submissions were Texas, Florida, and California. In the wording of those complaints, 497 included the word “vulgar,” 735 referenced “Spanish,” and 919 named Bad Bunny.
While the number of complaints was significant to regulators, it was dwarfed by the audience scale.. The halftime performance reportedly drew more than 4 billion views across broadcast. YouTube. and social media. according to the NFL. Apple Music. and Roc Nation. which produces the halftime show.. The program also included appearances beyond Bad Bunny. including Lady Gaga. a wedding. and a cameo from Maria Antonia Cay. the proprietor of Brooklyn’s Caribbean Social Club.
The complaints reflected a wider political and cultural argument beyond language and dance.. At least one submission made reference to the performers’ immigration status. saying: “There are illegals on my TV screen. ” from a viewer in Raleigh. North Carolina.. The viewer added that they did not understand Spanish, but believed they heard inappropriate language.. Bad Bunny is Puerto Rican, which the article notes means he is a US citizen.
In the days after the February performance. Republican lawmakers pushed for the FCC to investigate both the NFL and NBC over the broadcast.. FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez then requested transcripts of the performance that aired on NBC. and it was later reported that there were no violations.. Gomez told Reuters that she reviewed the material carefully. found no rule breaches. and saw no justification for harassing broadcasters over what was described as a standard live performance.
Bad Bunny’s representatives and NBC did not immediately respond to emails seeking comment, leaving the public debate to be shaped mainly by viewer accounts and the complaint records that the FCC made available.
Several complaints described the show as crossing lines of acceptability specifically because of who might be watching.. A viewer from Winstead. Connecticut. said there were “incredibly inappropriate songs and lyrics. ” and argued the broadcast also showed depictions of gay sex on screen along with other sexual innuendo.. Another complainant. from Incline Village. Nevada. said they watched the performance at a local Dave and Busters and saw parents visibly disturbed. with some leaving until the end of the event.
In addition to the “vulgar” and language-based complaints, some submissions focused on same-sex dancing during the show.. Thirty complaints referenced two men dancing with each other during the performance.. Separately. thirty of the complaints about the halftime show included President Trump’s familiar Truth Social sign-off. “Thank you for your attention to this matter.”
Super Bowl halftime shows have repeatedly generated FCC complaints, often mirroring the sociopolitical talking points of the moment.. The Bad Bunny submissions, in particular, were described as reflecting US discourse tied to immigration and ICE.. A comparison point was Kendrick Lamar’s halftime show last year. which drew 125 complaints that were widely characterized as focusing on the performance’s lack of white people amid right-wing outcry over DEI.
The episode underscores how regulators can receive large volumes of feedback even when an official review finds no rule violations.. For audiences. it also highlights the growing tension between live entertainment. language choice. and differing definitions of what qualifies as indecent—especially when the show reaches families watching across broadcast and major social platforms.
For broadcasters, the complaint volume is a reminder that live performances are rarely judged only on technical compliance.. Even when transcripts and policies clear a specific showing. public reaction can still spill into regulatory files. where content-related concerns—ranging from lyrics to choreography to political messaging—are compiled into a record that will be scrutinized long after the halftime whistle.
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