ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith has spoken out about his theories that President Donald Trump may target professional sports leagues and performers. He linked Trump to recent NBA events and the Super Bowl halftime show, igniting criticism and pushback from others in the sports media, including Robert Littal.
Sports news personality Littal, the founder of BlackSportsOnline, has pushed back on Smith’s claims. He posted on X in response to a clip of Smith, stating that Trump would not stop Bad Bunny from performing at the Super Bowl.
“You have to be more specific dog. You said the WNBA? Angel Reese? Caitlin Clark? He’s not stopping Bad Bunny from performing. Most professional league owners have donated him, so can you be a little more specific Mr. A who he’s coming for? He hates Terry Rozier?’ Littal tweeted on Thursday.
You have to be more specific dog. You said the WNBA? Angel Reese? Caitlin Clark? He’s not stopping Bad Bunny from performing. Most professional league owners have donated him, so can you be a little more specific Mr. A who he’s coming for? He hates Terry Rozier? https://t.co/qgAVej4H9K
— Robert Littal BSO (@BSO) October 23, 2025
During an episode of ESPN’s First Take, Smith suggested that recent NBA arrests on gambling charges could be part of a broader campaign of retribution linked to Trump.
He warned this might be “just the tip of the iceberg” and said other leagues, including the WNBA, could face scrutiny. He also referenced Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl halftime performance, noting it has drawn intense criticism from the Trump administration.
NFL Commissioner Defends Bad Bunny Amid Conservative Outcry Over Spanish Performance
The president and other conservatives criticized the selection due to the Puerto Rican artist’s use of Spanish and past political stances. During an October 2025 interview with Newsmax, Trump called the decision “absolutely ridiculous” and “crazy,” though he admitted he had never heard of Bad Bunny.
Other conservative figures also expressed disapproval over the Puerto Rican artist performing mostly in Spanish and his past criticisms of Trump-era immigration policies.
The NFL and Jay-Z’s Roc Nation picked Bad Bunny for the halftime show. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell confirmed the choice in October 2025 after the conservative backlash.
🏈 NFL STANDS BEHIND ‘BAD BUNNY’: Despite criticism, Commissioner Roger Goodell this week defended the NFL’s Super Bowl halftime show performance, saying, “He’s one of the leading and most popular entertainers in the world.”
🔗 https://t.co/a8j5ec1WoF pic.twitter.com/lclMaSX0Of
— 🚨 Rusty Surette (@KBTXRusty) October 25, 2025
He said the decision was “carefully thought through” and called Bad Bunny “one of the leading and most popular entertainers in the world.” He added that “hundreds of millions of people” watch the halftime show and that it is impossible to please everyone.
The ESPN commentator also defended the NFL’s choice on his podcast. He criticized politicians for “spewing such ignorance.” He added that the NFL wants to grow its global audience and that Bad Bunny’s international fame and appeal to Latin American fans fit that goal.
The Bad Bunny drama makes me SICK pic.twitter.com/2PlUxMsyHG
— Stephen A Smith (@stephenasmith) October 9, 2025
Bad Bunny joked about the criticism during his Saturday Night Live monologue in October 2025. He said viewers had four months to “learn” Spanish before the Super Bowl. He also called his selection a win for Latinos and Latinas who have worked to open doors in the U.S.
Bad Bunny’s monologue! pic.twitter.com/pjS0Ejckcg
— Saturday Night Live – SNL (@nbcsnl) October 5, 2025
As of late October 2025, the NFL is not reconsidering its decision to feature Bad Bunny as the Super Bowl LXI halftime performer scheduled for February 8, 2026, at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California.
