The Federal Communications Commission reviewed complaints about Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl halftime performance after Republican lawmakers raised objections and found no indecency violations, according to reporting. The review focused on whether uncensored explicit language aired during the NBC broadcast; regulators concluded radio edits removed references to sexual acts from the three songs performed and suspended further action absent new evidence. The inquiry followed viral posts from several GOP figures criticizing the set, which averaged 128.2 million viewers on NBC. The agency’s apparent closure of the matter leaves political debate over the performance unresolved but without regulatory penalty.
Key Takeaways
- The FCC reviewed complaints about potential indecent material in Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl halftime set after Republican criticism, per reporting by Charles Gasparino.
- Regulators found that three songs performed—”Tití Me Preguntó,” “Monaco,” and “Safaera”—had explicit sexual references removed for the broadcast versions used at the game.
- The agency “shelved” additional scrutiny and will take no further public action unless new evidence surfaces, according to the reporting source.
- Republican responses included viral posts and television comments from figures such as Rep. Randy Fine and Rep. Mark Alford, who questioned lyrics and called the performance inappropriate.
- Bad Bunny’s halftime show averaged 128.2 million viewers on NBC, achieved over 69 million YouTube views and generated more than 4 billion social media views.
- Observers note a contrast in public scrutiny with a separate Turning Point USA halftime show that featured drinking references and topless imagery but drew less Republican condemnation.
Background
The Super Bowl halftime show has long been a flashpoint for debates over broadcast standards, decency rules and cultural politics. The FCC enforces a narrow set of indecency rules for broadcast television and radio that apply during hours when children are likely to be watching; enforcement typically hinges on specific language and context. High-profile halftime performances have triggered FCC attention in the past, notably after Janet Jackson’s 2004 wardrobe incident, which led to fines and policy scrutiny though many were later overturned or reduced.
Bad Bunny, a Puerto Rican artist who headlined the 2026 halftime show, performed a setlist that included edited versions of songs that in their studio releases contain sexually explicit references. Political reactions to pop-culture moments have grown more prominent in recent election cycles, with lawmakers and media figures sometimes calling for regulatory or legal responses. The present inquiry was sparked by social-media posts and cable commentary alleging uncensored profanity or sexual references on live broadcast television.
Main Event
Following the halftime performance, several Republican lawmakers posted and amplified claims that Bad Bunny used explicit language on the NBC broadcast. Viral posts on X (formerly Twitter) quoted lyrics critics said were aired live; subsequent reporting determined those specific lines were not part of the versions performed at the stadium or on the broadcast. The FCC examined whether the transmitted audio contained material that violated its indecency standards.
According to reporting attributed to Charles Gasparino, the agency’s review found that the broadcast versions of three songs—”Tití Me Preguntó,” “Monaco,” and “Safaera”—had references to sexual acts and genitalia removed. That editing, regulators concluded, meant the material did not meet the threshold for an enforcement action under current rules. The review did not produce any fines or public sanctions.
Political voices continued to weigh in after the FCC’s internal review. Some Republicans argued the performance was inappropriate for a family audience, while others cited doubts about what language was actually sung on-air. At the same time, producers and broadcast partners defended the artistic decisions and the edits made for the televised version, emphasizing compliance with broadcast standards.
Analysis & Implications
The FCC’s apparent decision to close the matter without action underscores how narrowly the agency defines enforceable indecency. Broadcast enforcement hinges on demonstrable evidence that explicit content reached the audience in violation of specific statutory standards; edited or alternative versions of songs complicate that determination. For broadcasters and performers, the ruling (or lack of penalty) may reaffirm that careful pre-broadcast editing can reduce regulatory risk for live entertainment events.
Politically, the episode illustrates how cultural moments are leveraged for partisan messaging. Calls for investigations were amplified on social platforms and cable news, generating headlines and pressure despite the absence of regulatory findings. That dynamic benefits political actors seeking visibility even when factual bases are thin or corrected by later reporting.
Economically and commercially, the halftime show’s massive reach—128.2 million average NBC viewers, 69 million YouTube views, and billions of social impressions—reinforces its value as a platform for artists and advertisers. Regulatory clarity matters for stakeholders planning future live events, but the FCC’s restraint here suggests enforcement will depend on clear-cut, verifiable violations rather than partisan outrage alone.
Comparison & Data
| Metric | Bad Bunny Halftime |
|---|---|
| Average NBC viewers | 128.2 million |
| YouTube views | 69+ million |
| Social media impressions | 4+ billion |
Those audience figures place the performance among the most-watched halftime events in recent years and explain why political actors moved quickly to comment. High visibility increases the pressure on regulators to respond, even in cases where the legal threshold for action is not clearly met.
Reactions & Quotes
“Disgusting” and “illegal,” Rep. Randy Fine wrote in a viral post that criticized the performance and quoted lyrics not present in the televised set.
Rep. Randy Fine (social post)
Fine’s post circulated widely on social platforms and drove calls from some corners for formal inquiry. Subsequent reporting and the FCC review found no evidence that the quoted lines aired on NBC during the halftime show.
“I don’t speak Spanish,” Rep. Mark Alford said on cable television, but added that “a lot of information” had surfaced about the lyrics and their meaning.
Rep. Mark Alford (Fox News appearance)
Alford’s comments illustrate how assertions can spread even when commentators acknowledge language or context limitations. Media outlets and official reviews later clarified that the broadcast versions had been edited.
Unconfirmed
- Exact lines quoted in some viral posts were attributed to the Super Bowl broadcast but reporting indicates those specific lyrics were not performed on the televised versions.
- Comparative claims that Republican leaders uniformly ignored other halftime acts with adult themes remain anecdotal and not comprehensively documented here.
- The FCC’s internal disposition described in reporting has not been confirmed by a public FCC press release at the time of publication.
Bottom Line
The FCC probe into Bad Bunny’s halftime performance, as reported, ended without enforcement because the broadcast versions of key songs had explicit sexual references removed. That outcome highlights the technical and evidentiary standards the agency applies before taking action.
Politically, the episode shows how quickly cultural controversies can escalate into calls for regulatory scrutiny, even when underlying factual claims are weak or corrected by later reporting. For broadcasters and performers, the incident reinforces the importance of pre-broadcast edits and clear documentation of what aired when navigating live national telecasts.
Sources
- Awful Announcing (media reporting)
- Charles Gasparino on X (reporting source/social posts)
- Federal Communications Commission (official regulator)