Americans divided along party lines over Bad Bunny Super Bowl appearance: poll

(KRON) — Americans are divided along political party lines over the NFL’s decision to book Bad Bunny for this year’s Super Bowl Halftime Show. That’s according to a new Quinnipiac University Poll.

Overall, nearly half of Americans approve of the NFL having Bad Bunny perform with 48% saying they approve. A further 29% disapproved while 24% had no opinion.

In terms of those who approved or disapproved, they were largely divided by race, age, and political affiliation. Democrats, 74%, and independents, 52%, largely approved of Bad Bunny appearing at the Super Bowl. Only 10% of Democrats disapproved with 22% of independents also not approving.

A majority of Republicans, 63%, disapproved of the NFL’s decision while only 16% approved. The tendency for Republicans to disapproved reflected “recent criticism of the pick by the Trump administration,” the poll stated.

Black adults, 61%, and Hispanic adults, 65%, were more in favor of the decision, while only 41% of white adults said they were in favor of Bad Bunny appearing. These was also a big discrepancy when it came to age.

A majority of young people – those between 18 and 34 years old — said they were in favor of Bad Bunny at 64%, with just 17% disapproving. That’s compared to adults 65 years of age and over, who were divided with 36% approving and 37% disapproving.

“The NFL chose a global superstar to perform for the Super Bowl Halftime Show, yet the immense popularity of Bad Bunny’s music can’t escape the political tensions currently felt across the United States,” said Brittani Webb, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Media Studies at Quinnipiac University School of Communications. “For anyone who still argues that sports are apolitical, the polarized reactions suggest otherwise.”

This year’s Super Bowl will be played in February at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara.