Danica Patrick criticized Unhealthy Bunny‘s Tremendous Bowl LX halftime present reserving, sparking backlash from followers who defended his international affect and Puerto Rican roots.

The well-known singer has since expressed gratitude, calling the milestone a tribute to his folks and tradition. Recent off a record-breaking residency in San Juan, he was praised by Jay-Z and NFL execs as an excellent selection.

The announcement aired on September 28, with Unhealthy Bunny revealing that Jay-Z personally referred to as him concerning the Tremendous Bowl.

Patrick is not precisely thrilled concerning the NFL’s newest halftime present headliner.

The retired race automobile driver, 43, voiced her disapproval on X (previously Twitter) after Unhealthy Bunny was introduced because the performer for Tremendous Bowl LX.

“Oh enjoyable,” she wrote with an eye-roll emoji on September 29.

“No songs in English shouldn’t be allowed at one in every of America’s highest-rated tv occasions of the yr… not only for sports activities,” Patrick acknowledged once more.

Her feedback sparked quick backlash as followers reminded her that Puerto Rico, Unhealthy Bunny’s dwelling, is a part of the USA, whereas others highlighted his international attain.

1000’s of followers rapidly referred to as Patrick over her feedback, claiming the previous race automobile driver was being “ignorant.”

“77.4 MILLION Month-to-month Listeners of Unhealthy Bunny disagree,” one consumer clapped again.

One other added, “Gatekeeping the Tremendous Bowl is wild to me. It is a multicultural and globally-relevant occasion. Latino viewership and Spanish-language broadcasts are a giant a part of the present. It’ll be okay, Danica. You may survive 20 minutes of reggaetón.”

A 3rd particular person famous, “He is Puerto Rican, which can be a US territory that occurred to talk Spanish. If you do not need folks [to] communicate in Spanish, possibly you should not personal Spanish-speaking territories.”

One sarcastic remark learn, “What are you gonna do about it? Threaten to drive NASCAR once more?”

One other particular person wrote, “Your English grammar is horrible. I needed to learn this 3 times to know what your talentless -ss was trying to say. Perhaps you need to take some remedial English lessons.”

In the meantime, Unhealthy Bunny, whose actual identify is Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, responded to the milestone announcement with gratitude.

“What I am feeling goes past myself,” the 31-year-old stated in an announcement launched by the NFL. “It is for many who got here earlier than me and ran numerous yards so I may are available and rating a landing… that is for my folks, my tradition, and our historical past.”

The Puerto Rican famous person is stepping onto the Tremendous Bowl stage recent from a history-making run in his homeland. He just lately concluded a two-month residency in San Juan, capped with a record-breaking present livestreamed on Amazon Prime.

“What Benito has accomplished and continues to do for Puerto Rico is actually inspiring,” Jay-Z stated in an announcement saying the halftime present. “We’re honored to have him on the world’s greatest stage.”

An NFL senior vp echoed the sentiment, including, “As some of the influential and streamed artists on this planet, (Unhealthy Bunny’s) distinctive potential to bridge genres, languages, and audiences makes him an thrilling and pure option to take the Tremendous Bowl halftime stage.”

The announcement was formally revealed in the course of the Dallas Cowboys vs. Inexperienced Bay Packers Sunday Night time Soccer sport on September 28.

Reflecting on the second, Unhealthy Bunny admitted he had been retaining the key for months.

“It felt good” to lastly share the information, he stated throughout Apple Music’s “Halftime Headliner Particular” with Zane Lowe and Ebro Darden. “I used to be so emotional yesterday as a result of it was the primary time I confirmed the announcement video to one in every of my pals, and I noticed his response, and he was so excited.”

Unhealthy Bunny additionally revealed he was in the course of a exercise when Jay-Z personally referred to as to ship the information.

“I do not forget that after the decision, I simply did like 100 pull-ups,” he laughed. “I did not want extra pre-workout … it was very particular. It was so particular.”