Randy Fine, a member of the Republican party who is serving as a U.S. representative for Florida’s 6th congressional district, ignited bipartisan backlash on X after he publicized a letter he sent to FCC Chairman Brendan Carr demanding “a full and immediate investigation” into Bad Bunny‘s Super Bowl Halftime Show.
“It doesn’t matter if you say it in Spanish. Encouraging children to use cocaine in a live television broadcast is a crime. It doesn’t matter who is singing,” Fine writes in the letter. “Broadcasting the F-word during the Super Bowl is illegal. Both of these things happened during Sunday’s Super Bowl broadcast… I urge the FCC to conduct a thorough investigation and to pursue the maximum penalties permitted by law. Anything less would signal that indecency is tolerated so long as it is profitable, and that it a message that cannot be allowed to stand.”
Ben Stiller was one of the most prominent Hollywood figures to mock Fine for his campaign against Bad Bunny, whose Super Bowl Halftime Show has resulted in many Republicans melting down on social media.
“Focus of investigation: how did Bad Bunny manage to kick ass at such a high level and deliver the most watched and well produced half time show about inclusion and love ever made?” Stiller playfully replied to Fine on X. “Investigators plan to explore source of Bunny’s huge talent, off the charts charisma and an even bigger heart.”
Stiller’s response was then challenged by supporters of Fine who were similarly not fans of Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl performance, so Stiller decided to troll them, too.
“When you spend your entire life in the bubble of Hollywood where everything is given to you because of your family…. You become self righteous, unaware Ben Stiller,” one social media user told the comedian, who fired back: “Thanks. I live and am from New York City, and am grateful for my family and wish you all the best.”
Another X user informed Stiller that Bad Bunny’s show “wasn’t the most watched halftime. Kendrick [Lamar] was,” as if to imply that meant Bad Bunny shouldn’t have been the performer. Stiller responded: “Kendrick was amazing, too.”
“All of your friends were just caught raping and eating babies. You should definitely sit this one out even if you’re right,” one user who claimed to be “a Knicks fan and longtime Ben Stiller fan” said, to which the actor replied: “Wishing you all the best. I love my friends and family (none criminals) and wish you yours only good things.”
Stiller was following in the footsteps of Andy Cohen, the host of Bravo’s nightly talk show “Watch What Happens Live” who spent a good part of the day after the Super Bowl trolling Bad Bunny haters on Threads.