Shaboozey, who has performed at multiple NFL halftime shows, said he believes Bad Bunny is the ideal choice to headline next year’s Super Bowl Halftime Show.
“I think it’s awesome,” Shaboozey told Billboard at the United States Grand Prix, where he helped unveil a new tortoise design on a Formula 1 car for the Visa Cash App Racing Bulls team.
“It’s really cool,” he said. “I think Bad Bunny is awesome. He’s a global superstar, a global icon — and an American citizen. There’s no better choice.”
He added that the performance will likely be memorable. “Any time a Bad Bunny song comes on, the whole place erupts.”
Shaboozey and many Bad Bunny fans expressed excitement for the Puerto Rican rapper’s upcoming halftime show in February. However, some critics objected to selecting a Spanish-speaking performer. Former President Donald Trump called the decision “absolutely ridiculous,” and other conservative commentators shared similar views. The youth group Turning Point USA announced plans to host an “All American Halftime Show” featuring only English-language music as an alternative.
Shaboozey, who headlined the NFL’s Thanksgiving Halftime Show in November and appeared during the Christmas Day “Beyoncé Bowl,” said Bad Bunny’s performance could help expand the NFL’s global reach.
“I’ve noticed the NFL has been trying to expand,” Shaboozey said, referencing his brother Myles Smith playing at a season opener in Dublin. “They’re clearly trying to globalize the brand. Football’s such a beloved sport — why not take it to other places?”