Bethenny Frankel Backtracks on Bad Bunny Criticism
Bethenny Frankel is one of several former Bravo stars who have landed in hot water following remarks made about Bad Bunny’s halftime show. Frankel initially questioned whether or not Bad Bunny should make any kind of political or cultural statement during his performance. She later reversed her statement, which many Bravo fans have been quick to point out.
Bethenny Frankel was initially critical of Bad Bunny’s halftime show
In a since-deleted TikTok, Frankel noted that she “can’t wait to get canceled” for her opinion about the halftime show.
“The question remains, should these entertainment vehicles, whether the Grammys, the Emmys, the Oscars, the Super Bowl, should this be the place for personal, cultural, political views to be expressed?” she asked. “Certainly, there are major world events that take place, whether COVID or tragedies, 9/11, and it’s unavoidable that it’s discussed. But where is the line?”
She pointed out that some celebrities have come under fire for their vocal political stances and appeared to question whether it was better to keep quiet on current events.
“Kelly Ripa and [Mark Consuelos], for example, that show, no one’s allowed to express any opinions about anything going on,” she said. “They barely can discuss anything going on. It’s just, it’s an entertainment vehicle, and they keep it that way. So I’m asking you, where is the line?”
Many people criticized Frankel’s statement, noting that Bad Bunny used his halftime performance to promote a message of unity.
Bethenny Frankel later spoke positively about Bad Bunny’s halftime performance
After Frankel deleted her video, she posted another take on the halftime show. In this clip, she celebrated Bad Bunny for sharing Puerto Rican culture in the performance.
“So my take on Bad Bunny and his performance at the Super Bowl is that he is an artist expressing himself, his music, and his experience as a Puerto Rican man in America,” she said, per Page Six. “Bad Bunny is a Puerto Rican man in America on the largest stage in the world — which is very inspirational to people because that is him expressing his experience in his first language.”
A number of commenters pointed out the difference between her two statements. Frankel has deleted this statement as well.
Her former ‘RHONY’ castmate also landed in hot water for her remarks
While Frankel has faced some backlash, her former Real Housewives of New York co-star Jill Zarin has gotten even more vitriol. She said she hated the show.
“It was the worst halftime show ever,” she said. “I just don’t think it was appropriate to have it in Spanish, and, quite frankly … grabbing his G [groin] area … I think it was totally inappropriate. You’ve got all these young kids watching the Super Bowl, and he doesn’t have to be grabbing himself every five seconds because he’s so insecure. Seriously.”
She also criticized the performance for being in Spanish.
“I don’t speak Spanish. I would’ve liked to have known the words he was saying,” she said. “To me, it looked like a political statement because there were literally no white people in the entire thing. I’m not taking a side, one way or the other … I think it was an ICE thing. I think that the NFL sold out, and it’s very sad.”
Zarin has since deleted her statement.
