Bethenny Frankel gets dragged as she deletes Bad Bunny critique and posts complimentary video
Bethenny Frankel set social media alight after posting, and then deleting, a video revealing her initial thoughts on Bad Bunny's Super Bowl halftime performance.In the now-removed clip, the Real Housewives of New York City alum, 55, opened with a warning that she might 'get cancelled for this,' before launching into a broader question about whether major entertainment platforms should be used to express personal or political views.'Should these entertainment vehicles - the Grammys, the Emmys, the Oscars, the Super Bowl - should this be the place for personal, cultural, political views to be expressed?' Frankel asked.She acknowledged there are moments when discussion of world events is unavoidable, citing 'COVID or tragedies, 9/11,' but pressed repeatedly: 'Where is the line?'Frankel went on to compare Bad Bunny's performance to past controversies involving comedians and actors, including Dave Chappelle expressing transphobic views onstage in 2021 and Billie Eilish recently blasting ICE during her 2026 Grammys acceptance speech.'Where is the line?' Frankel asked again, arguing that daytime television hosts like Live With Kelly and Mark stars Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos are 'not allowed to express any opinions about anything going on.' Bethenny Frankel set social media alight after posting, and then deleting, a video revealing her initial thoughts on Bad Bunny's Super Bowl halftime performance'That show … they can barely discuss anything going on,' she said. 'It's an entertainment vehicle, and they keep it that way.'Shortly after posting the video, Frankel removed it, and followed up with a second Instagram Reel, in which she offered a far more supportive take on Bad Bunny's halftime appearance.'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,' the Skinnygirl founder said.She added that musicians across genres use their work to reflect culture and identity.'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.'Frankel concluded by invoking pop royalty: 'Madonna said it best: Express yourself.'Some fans speculated the quick deletion may have been influenced by the intense backlash faced by her former RHONY co-star Jill Zarin, who was widely criticized over her own now-deleted rant about Bad Bunny's Super Bowl performance.On Sunday, the 62-year-old reality star shared a video blasting the halftime show, calling it 'the worst halftime show ever' and claiming it was inappropriate for children watching at home. In a since-deleted video, the RHONY alum, 55, opened with a warning that she might 'get cancelled for this,' before launching into a broader question about whether major entertainment platforms should be used to express personal or political views 'Should these entertainment vehicles - the Grammys, the Emmys, the Oscars, the Super Bowl - should this be the place for personal, cultural, political views to be expressed?' Frankel asked'It was the worst halftime show ever. I just don't think it was appropriate to have it in Spanish and, quite frankly … grabbing his G [groin] area,' Zarin said in the clip. 'I think it was totally inappropriate.'She continued: '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.'Zarin also criticized the language of the performance and suggested it carried a political message.'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.'On Reddit, one user speculated Frankel may have taken down her post after seeing the 'reaction to Jill's.' She acknowledged there are moments when discussion of world events is unavoidable, citing 'COVID or tragedies, 9/11,' but pressed repeatedly: 'Where is the line?' (Bad Bunny seen above) Others rushed to defend Frankel, arguing her commentary was fundamentally different from Zarin's.'Why y'all acting so pitchforky & hysterical to any opinion? Like calm the f**k down. The intolerance is outta control. She is asking a perfectly valid question,' one person wrote.Another added: 'This is a reach. She's simply prompting a question for the culture, which is vastly different from Jill's take on Benito's performance.''She said nothing wrong. She's asking a question,' another commenter said. 'And also, see what happened with Billie Eilish. People from all ages and backgrounds heavily criticized her. In Bad Bunny's case, he mostly kept it cultural and inclusive, which is why it worked (even if I hate his music).'Meanwhile, another commenter insisted the distinction mattered: 'Jill's team is working hard to get the focus off her. Bethenny giving an initial take, then clarifying it, is not the same as Jill Zarin being angry "no whites" were shown and ppl singing in Spanish. VERY DIFFERENT.''There's absolutely nothing wrong with this video,' another concluded. 'It's very different than Jill's.'Others pleaded for former RHONY cast members to 'stop' weighing in, altogether.
