FCC Clears Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl Halftime Show After Scrubbing of Explicit Lyrics

By Michael Katz | Monday, February 16, 2026, 9:02 PM EST

The Federal Communications Commission has determined that Bad Bunny’s performance during the Super Bowl LX halftime show did not violate rules barring indecent or profane content during prime time.

According to a source with direct knowledge of the matter, the songs Bad Bunny performed — “Tití Me Preguntó,” “Monaco,” and “Safaera” — were edited to remove lyrics that typically reference sexual acts and genitalia. Without such edits, the lyrics could have violated FCC rules prohibiting profanity and obscenity during prime time.

The Federal Communications Commission has shelved any further review of the matter. Neither an NFL spokesperson nor Bad Bunny’s representatives responded to requests for comment.

Republican lawmakers, including Florida Representative Randy Fine, have called for a federal investigation into the performance, criticizing it as “disturbing,” “illegal,” and inappropriate for prime-time audiences.

Bad Bunny, whose real name is Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, is a 31-year-old pop star known for his distinctive style, including performances in dresses on stage, singing in Spanish, and lyrics that are sometimes considered risqué. His popularity has drawn both widespread acclaim and criticism from some viewers.

At this year’s Grammys, Bad Bunny made a pointed critique of President Donald Trump’s immigration enforcement efforts. The halftime show revisited similar themes, depicting Latin American life against a backdrop of sugar cane fields and Latin American flags.

FCC rules prohibit what is broadly defined as obscene material on free television, with the restrictions applying most strictly during prime time — from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m., depending on the time zone. Bad Bunny performed between approximately 8:00 p.m. and 8:30 p.m., squarely within prime time.

Michael Katz is a Newsmax reporter with more than 30 years of experience reporting and editing on news, culture, and politics.