Jill Zarin trashes Bad Bunny's Super Bowl halftime show for 'having no white people'... as fans call for her to be sacked

Former Real Housewives of New York City star Jill Zarin found herself at the center of a social-media firestorm after posting, then quickly deleting, a scathing critique of Bad Bunny's Super Bowl halftime show.

On Sunday, the 62-year-old reality star shared a video on Instagram blasting the performance, calling it 'the worst halftime show ever' and claiming it was inappropriate for children watching at home.

'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 now-deleted 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 went on to criticize 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.'

The backlash was swift and intense, with many pointing out her perplexing claim that 'no white people' was not true as Lady Gaga performed with him during the show.

As criticism poured into her Instagram comments, Zarin ultimately disabled commenting on her account altogether. 

However, her TikTok comments remained open at the time of posting, where viewers continued to call her out.

Among the comments rising to the top were: 'Jill do you also prefer separate water fountains?', 'Was going to watch the new show. Not anymore. That halftime show was AMAZING!' and 'Where'd your Super Bowl post go!'

Facing mounting pressure, Zarin ultimately deleted the video - though clips of it continue to circulate online.

The controversy quickly spread beyond Zarin's own page, with fellow Bravo personalities and viewers chiming in.

Real Housewives alum Tamra Judge reacted bluntly on X, writing: 'What the actual F*#k.'

The Valley's Janet Caperna, commented, 'Tell me you're racist without telling me you're racist…YIKES!!!' 

Meanwhile, Real Housewives of Dubai star Chanel Ayan wrote she was 'seriously disgusted' by Zarin's post. 

Bozoma Saint John, who appeared on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, called out Zarin for saying she wasn't 'taking a side' before 'clearly taking a side.' 

'I, on the other hand, LOVED Benito Bowl … for its beauty, culture, history, and message,' Saint John wrote. 

Others accused Zarin of hypocrisy, pointing out that similar, and even more provocative, performances have long been embraced at the Super Bowl.

'Shakira and J.Lo shake their a**es on stage, Michael Jackson grabbed himself, women are practically naked and totally fine - and that was all celebrated. But now suddenly everyone's clutching their pearls?' one user wrote, referencing Shakira, Jennifer Lopez, and Michael Jackson.

Others defended Bad Bunny's performance as a positive cultural moment rather than a political provocation.

'It was a political statement designed to UPLIFT America (including the U.S.) as a whole, offering a message of unity, joy, and love over hate,' another commenter wrote. 'So disappointing. I was really looking forward to the new show too.'

Some fans said Zarin's remarks had turned them off from watching her upcoming docuseries, titled The Golden Life, altogether.

'I already was doubting whether I'd watch the new RHONY show cause Jill's thirstiness is very uncomfortable to watch. Now I know I'll deff won't be watching,' one post read.

A second X user wrote: 'We need a petition to fire Jill Zarin before she even starts filming.' 

Others went further, criticizing what they viewed as outdated attitudes.

'This is why the OG housewives don't work anymore. No one wants to see out of touch, conservatives on TV,' another wrote.

Still others pointed to the massive audience for the halftime show, with one fan adding: '135 million watched the Bad Bunny show and it was amazing.'

The most severe reactions accused Zarin of racism, with one commenter writing: 'Shame on Jill Zarin for being an ignorant flaming racist.'

Neither Zarin nor the NFL has publicly addressed the backlash further, but the fallout has added yet another layer to the already polarizing reaction surrounding Bad Bunny's Super Bowl performance.

The Daily Mail has reached out to Zarin and NBCUniversal for comment, but has not heard back, at this time.