More than just a break for football players, the Super Bowl halftime show is shaping conversations far beyond the stadium, a performance that has evolved into one of the most powerful stages in pop culture. Last year, Kendrick Lamar left a huge impact with his significant symbolism, leaving a powerful statement about systemic inequality, corruption, and media manipulation. This year, Bad Bunny performing at the halftime show for the Super Bowl sparked even more controversy for a different reason: the halftime show unapologetically centered around Latinos, their hardships, labor, and Puerto Rican history.
The week prior to the Super Bowl, Bad Bunny had won three Grammys, all for his latest album “DeBi TiRAR MaS FOToS.” The album is the first entirely Spanish album to win Album of the Year.
Bad Bunny wants to show the world that we should dance and love without fear. Latin pride is one that should be represented, no matter the hostile environment toward the Latino community. To put it simply, he wanted people to have fun and enjoy the showcase of Puerto Rican culture and feel the accomplishments of Latin people.
Bad Bunny started the show off with a field filled with Latinos working and crop-picking fake grass. The camera then pans to many people doing normal activities in Latin culture, such as selling coconuts and old men playing dominoes. There is even a real business among the street vendors, called Villas Tacos, a taco stand in LA. Toñita, the owner of the last Puerto Rican Caribbean social club in Williamsburg, made an appearance during the part of the song “NUEVAYoL,” from his most recent album, that mentions her name. Bad Bunny celebrated the release of his “Un Verano Sin Ti” album in her club and fundraised, which helped keep her business afloat. Bad Bunny presented everyday Latino experience as something worthy of national recognition.
The first ever boxers to be in the halftime show represent Mexico and Puerto Rico. Bad Bunny intended to show this as there being no hate between Latino brothers and sisters.
He gets an engagement ring from a man portraying a street vendor to give to a guy who signed up to propose to his girlfriend during the show. He gives the ring to Victor Dimaren, a Puerto Rican and Dominican, to propose to his fiancée, Emma Eldridge, a South African woman, making it a real engagement during his show. He’s reflecting the theme of love and commitment between communities and different countries. A different couple made history by being the first real wedding to occur during a Super Bowl halftime show. The couple’s names are Thomas Wolter and Eleisa Aparico. They had initially sent Bad Bunny an invitation to their wedding, but instead he had invited them to get married during the show, and Bad Bunny signed their marriage certificate! We even see a boy sleeping on two chairs during this wedding, showing a longstanding shared experience many Latinos can relate to.
Bad Bunny then performs on top of a house that also shows up in his music videos for his “DeBi TiRAR MaS FOToS” album. He shows a tribute to Puerto Rican reggaeton’s roots by playing songs from his album “YHLQMDLG.”
“VOY A LLeVARTE PA PR” plays and shortly after, Bad Bunny falls through the house through an attic hatch. Dust everywhere, he walks out, where there are tons of people partying outside. Ignoring the fall and keeping on to party not only matched the lively and resonant nature of Puerto Rican parties but also symbolized resilience: continuing to party despite any setbacks you may face. “Gasolina” by raeggaton legend Daddy Yankee plays for a few seconds, an intimate detail to show that without Daddy Yankee, there would be no Bad Bunny.
Concho, the frog that appears in the video for the premiere of the album as a symbol of Puerto Rico’s fragile ecosystem, appears quickly as “Monaco” from his “Nadie Sabe Lo Que Va Pasar Mañana” album begins to play.
Bad Bunny shouts out, “Good Afternoon California, my name is Benito Antonio Martinez Ocasio, and if you’re seeing the 60th Super Bowl, it’s because I never, never, gave up on myself. You should too, believe in yourself, you’re worth more than you think. Believe me.”
Lady Gaga makes a surprise appearance after Bad Bunny serenates the words “Esto es lo que tu querias,” making the point that many people wanted ‘an American white singer.’ She sings a Salsa-inspired “Die With A Smile,” she wears a beautiful blue flamenco dress that flows as salsa dancers perform next to her. Bad Bunny grabs Gaga ‘s hand and says, “Mientras uno está vivo, uno debe vivir lo más que pueda.” A very repeated expression that comes up in his recent album, making sure everyone knows we should live life to the fullest.
Bad Bunny and Lady Gaga start to dance salsa as “BAILE INoLVIDABLE” plays on the speakers, conveying the concept that you do not need to know the language to dance and vibe to a song.
A small family is shown watching the Grammys and Bad Bunny approaches the little boy and hands him the Grammy. Many saw this as a gesture to Liam Ramos, the five-year-old boy that was recently detained by ICE, or a tribute to his young self.
A Latin man plays the guitar, showing Ricky Martin as the next guest to appear, singing “LO QUE LE PASO A HAWAii” on the infamous plastic chairs, featured in the “DeBi TiRAR MaS FOToS” album, trying not to break into tears with the powerful lyrics.
Fireworks that look like sparks of electricity go off and dancers fall off a lamp post to do tricks, almost like rock climbing. Bad Bunny appears in the middle of all the lamp posts, holding a Puerto Rican flag. Hurricane Katrina left many Puerto Ricans without power, this proved that linemen showed up to help the citizens when the government did not.
“Cafe Con Ron” from his most recent album plays and people run out holding different flags of different countries. Bad Bunny shouts out “God Bless America,” and says all of the countries from Latin America, including the U.S., and Canada. emphasizing that America doesn’t only mean the U.S. In the background, a billboard says “The only thing more powerful than hate is love,” and he turns the football he is holding and it reads, “Together, we are America.” Everyone celebrated their nations as “DeBi TiRAR MaS FOToS” played, ending the halftime show.
A total of 135 million people tuned in to watch Bad Bunny perform at the halftime show, making it the most-watched Super Bowl halftime show to date. Some sources even say he had 142.3 million watchers. Across the meticulously placed details, Bad Bunny set out to represent Latin culture and powerful and political statements about Puerto Rico were made. The set design throughout the entire show was glimmering with slices of life from Puerto Rican communities. In a world where everyone is separated by hate, he unites everyone with music and captures the warm embrace of Latin pride, making it impossible to look away.
