Daniel Radcliffe has stepped up in Bad Bunny’s defense after the intense backlash over the artist’s halftime show during Super Bowl LX, held earlier this year. During a conversation where he talked about his favorite books, Radcliffe used historical arguments to defend Bad Bunny from some of the backlash he has been getting.
Daniel Radcliffe Pushes Back on Criticism
During the conversation, Daniel Radcliffe talked about his favorite books, mentioning Daniel Immerwahr’s How to Hide an Empire as one of them. How to Hide an Empire is a book that discusses the history of U.S. territories and the expansion of the American Empire.
While discussing his favorite books, Radcliffe talked about How to Hide an Empire and how it helped him understand the historical background of the backlash that Bad Bunny was getting. He said that people need to understand that Puerto Rico is a U.S. territory and that people born there are American citizens.
“Hearing anyone complain about Bad Bunny, like him not being American or anything, is heinous,” Radcliffe said. “After reading that book, you just think, no, you guys need to shut up.”
The rationale for the actor is simple. If Puerto Rico is a part of the United States, then calling a Puerto Rican artist “not American” is a dismissal of a significant part of American history.
Bad Bunny’s halftime show at Super Bowl LX, also referred to by some fans as the “Benito Bowl,” quickly became one of the most talked-about performances of the night.
Some of the backlash against the artist came from the show’s content, particularly segments that referenced cultural and social issues related to Puerto Rico. There was also a significant focus on Spanish music and traditional Afro-Puerto Rican music styles such as bomba and plena.
Some people attacked the artist for his show’s political commentary, while others complimented him on his authenticity.
Regardless, the show generated a tremendous amount of buzz. According to reports, the halftime show was watched by over 128 million people, making it one of the most popular music events of the year.
