Los Angeles, Feb 9 (.) Puerto Rican superstar ‘Bad Bunny’ made history Sunday by headlining the ‘Super Bowl’ halftime show, delivering a high-energy, emotionally charged performance that celebrated Latin identity, inclusion, and love.
The show, watched by over 100 million viewers worldwide, marked the Super Bowl’s first largely Spanish-language halftime performance, Variety reports.
The performance unfolded amid ongoing political debates over immigration in the United States. Before kickoff, protesters gathered near the stadium holding signs reading “ICE OUT” and “Abolish ICE Now,” highlighting tensions surrounding immigration enforcement.
Bad Bunny’s set drew heavily on his Puerto Rican roots. The stage was transformed into a vibrant neighborhood scene, complete with a barber shop and a casita, creating a strong sense of place and community. His medley of songs paid homage to Latin American culture while maintaining a celebratory, high-energy atmosphere, according to Variety.
The show featured surprise appearances from Lady Gaga and Ricky Martin. Gaga performed a salsa-infused version of her hit collaboration with Bruno Mars, while a couple was married live on stage, adding a spontaneous and heartwarming moment to the performance.
Unity was a central theme throughout the show. At one point, Bad Bunny declared “God bless America” as a billboard behind him displayed the message, “The only thing more powerful than hate is love.” He also named countries across North, South, and Latin America, emphasizing togetherness beyond borders.
In a particularly powerful segment, Bad Bunny’s Grammy acceptance speech was played on a television on stage. He handed his Grammy trophy to a young boy while his words echoed: “We’re not animals, we’re not aliens. We are humans and we are Americans. The hate gets more powerful with more hate. The only thing that’s more powerful than hate is love. If we fight, we have to do it with love,” as quoted by Variety.
Ricky Martin joined Bad Bunny for a duet from the album ‘Debí Tirar Más Fotos’, highlighting the legacy of Puerto Rican artists in shaping global pop culture. In a message prior to the show, Martin praised Bad Bunny, saying: “You won without changing the colour of your voice. You won without erasing your roots. You won by staying true to Puerto Rico.”
Leading up to the halftime show, there was speculation about whether Bad Bunny would make a political statement. The artist has previously cited concerns about immigration enforcement as a reason for avoiding US tour stops. At the Grammy Awards, he had said, “Before I say thanks to God, I’m going to say ICE out,” calling for love over hate, as per Variety.
Speaking at a press conference before the Super Bowl, Bad Bunny described the halftime show as a “huge party” intended for everyone. “They don’t even have to learn Spanish,” he said. “It’s better if they learn to dance. There’s no better dance than the one that comes from the heart.”
Lady Gaga, a previous Super Bowl halftime headliner, expressed her support, saying: “He knows who he is, and that’s all that matters when you step onto that stage. All he has to do is be the beautiful person he already is, and the world will feel his heart.”
With music, culture, and message aligned, Bad Bunny’s halftime performance stood out as more than entertainment, it was a celebration of pride, identity, and unity on one of the world’s biggest stages.
. MI ARN