Bad Bunny erased his Instagram presence hours after a polarizing Super Bowl halftime show, fueling debate over culture, politics, and celebrity messaging. The move came after mixed reactions to his performance and sharp criticism from conservative leaders, including President Trump.
The Latin pop star, whose real name is Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, deleted every post from his Instagram account Sunday night. He also removed his profile picture and unfollowed all accounts, leaving only his follower count of more than 50 million visible. The change followed his Super Bowl LX halftime performance, which drew divided responses nationwide.
Fox News Digital reported that the performance triggered widespread condemnation from prominent conservatives. President Trump weighed in shortly after the broadcast.
“The Super Bowl Halftime Show is absolutely terrible, one of the worst, EVER! It makes no sense, is an affront to the Greatness of America, and doesn’t represent our standards of Success, Creativity, or Excellence. Nobody understands a word this guy is saying, and the dancing is disgusting, especially for young children that are watching from throughout the U.S.A., and all over the World,” President Trump wrote on Truth Social.
Other conservative commentators criticized the performance for being almost entirely in Spanish, arguing it carried a political message aimed at U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Democratic leaders offered a sharply different response. California Gov. Gavin Newsom praised the performance and issued a symbolic declaration ahead of the game.
“Thank you @sanbenito for taking the California stage and using your voice at #SuperBowlLX. A beautiful moment! Together, we are America,” Newsom wrote on X.
Some fans suggested the Instagram wipe may signal a rebranding effort rather than a response to criticism. Bad Bunny’s team has not commented.
