Bad Bunny recently hosted the season 51 premiere of "Saturday Night Live". This marked his second time hosting the show. The Puerto Rican superstar used his opening monologue to address and mock the controversy surrounding his upcoming Super Bowl LX halftime performance.

The announcement of Bad Bunny as the headliner for the Super Bowl halftime show on February 8, 2026, in Santa Clara, California, sparked debate. Conservative figures have criticized the selection, citing his opposition to former President Donald Trump, his performance of Spanish-language songs, and his gender-fluid fashion choices. Some have even questioned his legal status despite Puerto Ricans being U.S. citizens.

During his SNL monologue, Bad Bunny sarcastically addressed the backlash, stating he believed "everyone is happy about it, even Fox News". The show then aired a clip of Fox News personalities edited together to say, "Bad Bunny is my favorite musician, and he should be the next president". He also addressed the audience in Spanish, emphasizing the importance of his selection for all Latinos, stating that it proves "no one can remove or erase our mark and contributions to this country". He concluded this part of his monologue by saying in English, "If you didn't understand what I just said, you have four months to learn".

The controversy surrounding Bad Bunny's Super Bowl performance intensified when Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem stated that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) would be present at the Super Bowl. This led to concerns about potential targeting of immigrants, a concern Bad Bunny himself has expressed in the past. He had previously stated that his recent residency bypassed the continental United States partly due to concerns that ICE officials might target immigrants for deportation outside his venues.

Despite the controversy, the NFL has stood by its decision to feature Bad Bunny, emphasizing the show will celebrate his "people, culture, and history". Petitions supporting Bad Bunny have also emerged, highlighting the importance of diversity and inclusion.

The SNL season 51 premiere also introduced five new cast members: Tommy Brennan, Jeremy Culhane, Ben Marshall, Kam Patterson, and Veronika Slowikowska. This follows the departure of several cast members, including Ego Nwodim, Devon Walker, Emil Wakim, and Michael Longfellow. Heidi Gardner's departure has been reported by multiple outlets, but has not been confirmed by either her or NBC.

Doja Cat appeared as the musical guest for the premiere episode. Amy Poehler and Sabrina Carpenter are scheduled to host subsequent episodes.