🔗 Share this article

In his first speech as host of the season premiere of SNL, the popular artist responded to controversial comments made by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem regarding his scheduled 2026 Super Bowl show.

The 31-year-old Latin music icon quipped that "everyone" was pleased about his scheduled show, "even Fox News."

“Happy to return. I’ve hosted twice now and appeared four times,” he told the audience. “I’m doing the Super Bowl half-time show. I’m very happy and I think everyone is happy about it.”

A quick montage followed featuring commentators from the network seeming to support Bad Bunny for the presidency.

An Important Statement for the Latino Community

During his opening remarks, Bad Bunny switched to Spanish to address "all the Latinos and Latinas in the entire world and here in the United States."

He expressed that being chosen for the halftime show was more than a personal achievement but a win for the entire community, showing that their impact in the U.S. will never be erased.

Then, switching to English, he added, "For those who didn’t catch that, you’ve got a few months to pick up some Spanish."

Political Criticism and Noem's Comments

The announcement of Bad Bunny’s halftime show sparked anger among right-wing commentators, including Kristi Noem.

During a podcast appearance, Noem warned that only Americans should attend the upcoming game and threatened that ICE agents "would be present throughout" the event.

Noem further suggested the NFL would "regret its decision" for choosing the performer.

Tour Omission and Live Shows

Earlier, the singer revealed that fears of immigration enforcement at his concerts resulted in him excluding the United States from his forthcoming world tour.

Recently concluding a lengthy performance run in San Juan, Puerto Rico, which allegedly attracted around 600,000 fans.

"My residence was beautiful, everyone loved it," he noted during his opening speech.

SNL Sketches and Political Satire

In other sketches of the season opener, cast member Colin Jost impersonated commentator Pete Hegseth.

The sketch featured a tirade about the armed forces, mockingly referencing the host’s prior statements about diversity and body-shaming within the military.

Additionally, actor a cast member appeared briefly as a "unofficial watchdog" of the program, saying he was there to make sure "SNL doesn’t cross the line with jokes about me."