Puerto Rican famous person Bad Bunny on Sunday turned the Super Bowl into a large road celebration, delivering his hits on one of many world’s largest levels — and changing into the first-ever halftime present headliner to sing solely in Spanish.
Anticipation was excessive for the 31-year-old’s set, amid rampant hypothesis about whether or not he would use his platform to resume his criticism of President Donald Trump’s administration in entrance of tens of tens of millions of viewers.
Just every week in the past on the Grammys, the place he gained the coveted Album of the Year prize, Bad Bunny made a searing assertion about Trump’s sweeping immigration crackdown, incomes cheers for saying “ICE out” from the stage.
But the wildly common musician, whose actual identify is Benito Antonio Martinez Ocasio, made good on his pre-game promise to joyously share his tradition — whereas specializing in the significance of unity over calling out particular divisions in American society, or naming names.
In a set that includes a sugar cane plantation, a standard “piragua” cart promoting treats, and even a marriage, he opened with “Titi Me Pregunto” and feminist anthem “Yo Perreo Sola,” with a forged of dancers fueling the celebration environment.
Actors Pedro Pascal and Jessica Alba, and rapper Cardi B have been among the many visitor stars vibing in his acquainted “La Casita” backdrop, representing a house in Puerto Rico.
Bad Bunny wore an all-white ensemble, with a soccer jersey that includes the quantity “64” and “Ocasio,” earlier than donning an aesthetic go well with jacket.
He delved into extra political territory with “El Apagon” (Blackout), which touches on the displacement of Puerto Ricans on their very own island, and the fixed issues attributable to the unreliable energy grid. He carried a Puerto Rican flag at one level.
Surprise musical visitors included Lady Gaga, who sang a Latin-inflected model of her hit “Die with a Smile” — the one English lyrics within the present — and Puerto Rican singer Ricky Martin.
At the top of the set, after itemizing Latin American international locations, Puerto Rico and the United States, Bad Bunny spiked a soccer that stated “Together, we are America.”
An enormous display within the stadium learn: “The only thing more powerful than hate is love.”
Bad Bunny has been Spotify’s most-streamed artist on the earth 4 separate occasions, together with final 12 months, and gained Album of the Year on the Grammys with “Debi Tirar Mas Fotos” — the primary Spanish-language work to win music’s highest accolade.
But the choice to showcase his work on the Super Bowl in California met with conservative outrage — particularly about the concept that he wouldn’t sing in English.
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell defended the selection, calling Bad Bunny “one of the great artists of the world.”
The National Football League can also be searching for to bolster its worldwide fan base, so reserving a world famous person for the primetime musical interlude made good sense.
The NFL entered into an settlement in 2019 with Jay-Z’s leisure firm Roc Nation, which leads the league’s leisure technique and helps select the halftime present artist.
Since that point, the listing of Super Bowl headliners consists of: Jennifer Lopez and Shakira (with a visitor spot for Bad Bunny); The Weeknd; hip-hop legends Dr Dre, Snoop Dogg, Mary J. Blige and Eminem; Rihanna; Usher; and Kendrick Lamar.
But JLo and Shakira didn’t carry out completely in Spanish, leaving Bad Bunny to set that benchmark.
The son of a truck driver and a trainer, Bad Bunny was born on March 10, 1994 and grew up in Vega Baja, a small municipality close to Puerto Rico’s capital San Juan.
He was working at a grocery store bagging groceries when he received a name from a label over his viral performs on the DIY platform SoundCloud.
Thus started the reggaeton star’s fast explosion to the highest of world music.
Late final 12 months, Bad Bunny launched “Debi Tirar Mas Fotos,” a historical past lesson in Puerto Rican music that he promoted with a hometown live performance residency in San Juan and a world tour.
In Puerto Rico, a US territory since 1898, there was nothing however pleasure for the island’s native son on Sunday.
“For someone from here to be at one of the most important events in the United States is a source of pride for every Puerto Rican,” Olvin Reyes, 39, instructed AFP. “It’s going to be an event to share with family, something very exciting.”
© 2026 AFP