Bad Bunny-Themed Anti-ICE Towels Distributed at Super Bowl in Political Statement
More than 25,000 Super Bowl attendees received a distinctive piece of merchandise as they entered Levi's Stadium on Sunday—a rally towel featuring a bunny punting a frozen football with the message "ICE OUT." According to reports, activists handed out these towels to fans watching the Seattle Seahawks face the New England Patriots, aiming to make a political statement visible during the game's broadcast. The halftime performance by Bad Bunny, a vocal critic of former President Donald Trump's immigration policies, added to the event's political undertones.
Activists Leverage Super Bowl Platform for Immigration Protest
Approximately 50 activists from the group Contra-ICE distributed the towels, which displayed a cute drawing of a bunny on one side and the words "ICE OUT" on the other. Shasti Conrad, the leader of Contra-ICE, emphasized that while this action differs from more direct forms of protest, such as those in Minneapolis, it represents an opportunity to be heard. "I'm a big 'Joy is resistance' person," Conrad told SFGate. "Today is a celebration of American sports, and there are opportunities to really be heard here. It's about drawing attention to show that there is massive support to challenge Trump and the Department of Homeland Security."
The towels were designed by political cartoonist and activist Lalo Alcaraz, featuring a bunny wearing Bad Bunny's signature jibaro hat and holding a grenade—a nod to Green Day, who opened the Super Bowl. Alcaraz explained, "Art has always been a way to confront hate wherever it appears. When injustice becomes part of everyday life, artists have a responsibility to make it visible. In a public space and cultural moment the whole country is watching, images, color, and movement become a way to express love and push back against hate in plain sight."
Bad Bunny's Political Activism and Halftime Performance
Bad Bunny, whose real name is Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, has been an outspoken critic of Trump's immigration crackdown. A week before his Super Bowl performance, he denounced Trump's aggressive policies while accepting the Grammy for Album of the Year, saying "ICE OUT." During his halftime set, he highlighted issues such as corruption and inequality in Puerto Rico, using sparkling power poles during "El Apagón" to nod to these concerns. Despite the political backdrop, Bad Bunny delivered a message of unity, performing in front of a billboard that read, "The only thing more powerful than hate is love." Toward the end of his act, he was handed a football inscribed with "Together, we are America" and said "God bless America" before listing every country in the Americas.
Political Backlash and Reactions
The choice of Bad Bunny as the halftime performer sparked controversy among conservative circles. Former President Donald Trump called the selection "absolutely ridiculous" and claimed he had never heard of the Grammy-winning artist. On Truth Social, Trump later described the show as "an affront to the Greatness of America." Some MAGA supporters protested by watching an alternative "All-American Halftime Show" organized by Turning Point USA, featuring Kid Rock. Trump himself snubbed the Super Bowl this year, having attended the previous game with rapper Kendrick Lamar as the halftime performer.
Despite the backlash, Bad Bunny's performance received glowing reviews, including from The Independent, and the distribution of anti-ICE towels underscored the ongoing political tensions surrounding immigration in the United States. The event highlighted how cultural moments like the Super Bowl can become platforms for activism, blending sports, entertainment, and political protest in a highly visible arena.
