Slash Challenges Critics of Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl Performance: “Music Isn’t About Language — It’s About Pure Enjoyment”
OPINION: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author's opinion.
Rock icon Slash, famed guitarist of Guns N’ Roses, has stepped into the spotlight to defend Bad Bunny amid the controversy over the Latin superstar’s upcoming Super Bowl 2025 Halftime Show. Following a wave of criticism targeting Bad Bunny’s use of Spanish during the performance, Slash called out what he described as a “narrow view of music” and urged for a more open-minded approach.
“When did music stop being about pure enjoyment?” Slash questioned during a recent interview. “Why should it be forbidden to sing in a different language? That kind of extreme thinking is toxic — and it needs to be eliminated.”
Known for his electrifying guitar work on hits like “Sweet Child O’ Mine” and “November Rain,” Slash has long championed artistic freedom and the celebration of cultural diversity in music. He emphasized that music transcends language, connecting people through emotion rather than words.
“You don’t have to understand the words to feel what the artist is saying,” he explained. “That’s the beauty of music — it connects people emotionally, not grammatically.”
Slash praised Bad Bunny for breaking barriers and representing Latin music on one of the world’s most visible stages.
“Bad Bunny’s got talent, attitude, and presence. The dude’s global for a reason,” Slash said. “If people can’t handle hearing a song in Spanish, maybe they’re missing the point of what music’s supposed to be.”
Taking aim at what he called “cultural gatekeeping” within mainstream American entertainment, Slash asserted that music should be a borderless experience.
“Music shouldn’t have borders,” he added. “Whether it’s rock, rap, or reggaeton — if it moves you, it matters. That’s it.”
His remarks have resonated widely, earning praise from fans across genres who view the Super Bowl stage as a platform for unity rather than division.
While some argue that English-language performances uphold Super Bowl tradition, Slash believes the evolution of music requires breaking those very traditions.
“The world’s bigger than one language,” he said. “And if you can’t enjoy a song just because it’s not in English — maybe you’ve forgotten what real music feels like.”
With his candid words, Slash once again reminded the world that true music defies boundaries and expectations — it simply connects.