Little Steven goes off on Benito after halftime chaos
The E Street Band legend Steven Van Zandt is not holding back after witnessing what he calls a massive insult to the American public. Just moments after Bad Bunny finished his high-octane, Spanish-language takeover of the Super Bowl LX stage, the man known as Little Steven took to social media to torch the production. While the world was buzzing about the guest stars and the spectacle, Van Zandt was busy calling out the behind-the-scenes decision to leave non-Spanish speakers in the dark.
In a series of blistering posts, the Sopranos alum made it clear that while he appreciates the talent, he has zero patience for the execution. Expanding to the Latino audience is one thing, Van Zandt wrote, but doing a show EXCLUSIVELY for the Latino audience? He warned that the league and the artist are going to hear about this one for a long time. It is a rare moment of public friction between two industry heavyweights, and it is sending shockwaves through the music world.
Subtitles or total division
Van Zandt did not stop at just one post. He doubled down on his critique, claiming that the lack of subtitles was a calculated bad decision that actively encouraged division. Little Steven, who has a long history of making and supporting Latin music, insisted that he was happy for the rapper’s enormous success but refused to ignore the glaring oversight on the biggest television stage in the world. To him, the omission was nothing short of an insult to the hundreds of millions watching who could not follow the lyrics.
Our sources say the atmosphere in the production trucks was pure panic as the show aired without any translated text on screen. While some fans loved the raw authenticity, others felt completely alienated. Van Zandt argued that subtitles would have been the ultimate move for countering division, but by choosing to skip them, the NFL basically gave a middle finger to a huge portion of its traditional fan base. Is this a case of a legend being out of touch, or did the PR team drop the ball on a global scale?
Trump weighs in on the ridiculous choice
Long before the first firework went off at Levi Stadium, President Donald Trump was already leading the charge against the selection of Bad Bunny. In a series of interviews leading up to the game, Trump slammed the choice as absolutely ridiculous and a terrible move that only serves to sow hatred. The -year-old politician claimed he did not even know who the global superstar was, calling the league’s decision crazy and questioning the logic behind hiring a performer who does not primarily sing in English.
Trump even cited the long flight to Santa Clara as a reason for his absence, though insiders whisper he wanted no part of the political firestorm he knew the halftime show would ignite. His comments added fuel to the fire started by conservative organizations like Turning Point USA, which went so far as to organize their own alternative halftime show to compete with the official broadcast. The battle lines are clearly drawn, and the halftime show has officially become a political football.
Benito tells fans to learn to dance instead
For his part, the man known as Benito Antonio Martinez Ocasio seemed completely unbothered by the looming controversy. During a press conference just days before the big game, the Puerto Rican rapper addressed the language barrier with his signature swagger. He told reporters that fans do not even have to learn Spanish to enjoy his set. According to him, the only thing people need to worry about is learning to dance from the heart. It was a clear signal that he was not going to compromise his vision for anyone.
I just want people to have fun, he claimed, but the aggressive pushback from legends like Van Zandt suggests that fun might be the last thing people are having today. While Benito was busy getting emotional about his mother, Lysaurie Ocasio, and how her belief in him as a human being got him to this stage, the critics were sharpening their knives. The singer credited his human decisions and his unique taste for his rise to the top, but those same choices are now the center of a national scandal.
A house divided over Apple Music production
The Super Bowl LX show, backed by Apple Music, was meant to be a moment of global unity, but it has resulted in a house divided. While Lady Gaga and a slew of other stars brought the heat, the focus has shifted entirely to the language debate. Our paparazzi on the ground caught several high-profile attendees looking visibly confused in their luxury boxes as the show progressed without a word of English. The contrast between the high-tech production and the missing subtitles is being called a massive failure in celebrity branding.
Fans have taken to the streets and the web to voice their frustration, and the reactions are as messy as you would expect. Some are hailing Bad Bunny as a revolutionary who does not need to cater to English speakers, while others are lining up behind Little Steven, demanding an apology from the NFL. The league is currently in crisis mode, trying to figure out how to satisfy both sides of a fan base that is now at each other’s throats.
Benito did not need subtitles because the music is a universal language. Steven is just being a hater because he is old.
I agree with Little Steven. I spent half the show trying to Google the lyrics instead of watching the performance. Insulting is right.
Trump was right about this one. It felt like a show for another country, not the American Super Bowl.
The mother of all controversies
As the fallout continues, many are looking back at Bad Bunny’s emotional tribute to his mother as a shield against the mounting criticism. By highlighting his humble beginnings and his mother’s unwavering support for his choices, he has built a narrative of authenticity and heart. But will that be enough to quiet the legends of rock and roll and the political figures who see his performance as a bridge too far? The legal and social implications of the NFL’s pivot toward global audiences are only just beginning to surface.
With Steven Van Zandt promising that the league is going to hear about this one, the stage is set for a long-term feud. There is already talk of boycotts and demands for more traditional acts in future years. The question remains: was this a bold step forward for the NFL, or did they accidentally alienate the very people who built the league? One thing is for certain: the silence where the subtitles should have been is the loudest thing about this year’s Super Bowl. Will the league offer an olive branch, or is the language barrier here to stay?
Would you like me to look into the NFL’s internal production notes to see if subtitles were ever actually part of the original plan?
