Skip to Content

Pop culture update: Bad Bunny at the Super Bowl, P. Diddy sentencing and Taylor Swift’s new album

Swift’s album breaks streaming records despite mixed critical reception.
Pop culture update: Bad Bunny at the Super Bowl, P. Diddy sentencing and Taylor Swift’s new album
 Super Bowl Slander Smackdown
Bad Bunny Responds to Super Bowl Backlash on SNL

Bad Bunny addressed the criticism over his upcoming Super Bowl LX halftime show during his opening monologue on “Saturday Night Live” (SNL). Speaking entirely in Spanish, he told viewers, “You have four months to learn,” a direct response to backlash over his decision to perform the 2026 show entirely in Spanish. The joke came after conservative commentators and politicians criticized the National Football League’s artist selection. Bad Bunny followed up by airing clips of Fox News hosts reacting negatively to the announcement, then mocked their comments on stage. In his closing remarks, he emphasized the cultural importance of the moment and his dedication to Latino culture. His response quickly went viral, with many fans praising his confidence and unapologetic pride.

Super Bowl Slander Smackdown (YouTube | Saturday Night Live )
 Got Off Easy?
P. Diddy Sentenced to Over Four Years in Prison

On Oct. 3, music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs was sentenced to 50 months in prison after being convicted on two counts of transportation for prostitution. Combs was acquitted of his most serious charges, racketeering and sex trafficking, and the 13 months he has already served since his 2024 arrest will count towards his sentence. In court, Combs apologized to his former partners, his children and survivors of abuse. Still, his legal team has announced plans to appeal for a reduced sentence. Public reaction on the internet has been mixed, with many critics arguing that the verdict was overly lenient given the widespread harm of Combs’ actions.

Got Off Easy? (YouTube | Washington Post )
 The Lead and Ensemble
Taylor Swift’s “Life of a Showgirl”

On Oct. 3, pop superstar Taylor Swift released her 12th studio album, “Life of a Showgirl.” The 12-track project’s theme revolves around the duality of fame, expressed clearly through songs like “Eldest Daughter” and “The Life of a Showgirl.” The album’s release was heavily anticipated, with celebrities like Cardi B and Sabrina Carpenter joining fans online to build hype. Within hours, the album broke streaming records; the lead single “The Fate of Ophelia” became the most streamed song in a single day in Spotify history. Swifties across the internet praised her songwriting and reunion with producers Max Martin and Shellback, with whom she produced pop classics like “Blank Space” and “Style.” Other listeners aren’t as impressed, criticizing the album for being lyrically flat and pretending to be profound. In spite of the mixed reviews, “The Life of a Showgirl” has generated massive buzz, cementing its place as one of the year’s most talked-about releases. 

The Lead and Ensemble (YouTube | Taylor Swift )
View Story Comments
Donate to The Mirror
$1735
$5000
Contributed
Our Goal

Your donation will support the student journalists of Van Nuys Senior High School. Your contribution will allow us to purchase equipment and cover our annual website hosting costs.

About the contributor
Joel Nam
Joel Nam, Editor-in-Chief
Donate to The Mirror
$1735
$5000
Contributed
Our Goal