Bad Bunny Redefines the Super Bowl with a Revolutionary Halftime Spectacle
In a history-making performance that celebrated Latinx culture with unapologetic pride, Bad Bunny delivered an Apple Music Super Bowl Halftime Show for the ages. True to his pre-show promise that “the world will dance,” the global superstar orchestrated a joyous, intricate, and politically charged spectacle that featured surprise appearances from Lady Gaga and Ricky Martin, an onstage wedding, and a powerful rebuke of hatred.
Watched by over 125 million viewers, the performance was a profound introduction to Puerto Rican tradition for many, transforming the football field into a vibrant vecindad (neighborhood) complete with a barber shop, a liquor store, and the iconic “casita” from his record-breaking Puerto Rico concert residency.
A Walk Through a Puerto Rican Neighborhood
The show kicked off with high energy as Bad Bunny performed his hit “Tití Me Preguntó” while weaving through an elaborate set. He strolled past a mock sugar-cane field, exchanged nods with elderly men playing dominoes, accepted a shot of rum from the owner of the famed Caribbean Social Club, and passed a boxing match featuring Puerto Rican fighters. This immersive journey was a love letter to his roots, designed to share his culture with the world.
The party then moved to the casita’s roof, where Bad Bunny launched into “Yo Perreo Sola.” Below him, a star-studded group including Karol G, Cardi B, Jessica Alba, and Pedro Pascal danced enthusiastically, showcasing a powerful display of Latino unity and star power.
Star-Studded Surprises and a Wedding Ceremony
The night’s first major surprise was pop icon Lady Gaga, who emerged on an elevated platform for a Puerto Rican wedding recreation. She delivered a salsa-inflected rendition of her 2024 hit with Bruno Mars, “Die With a Smile,” backed by the legendary salsa group Los Sobrinos. Following the ceremonial vows, Bad Bunny joined Gaga for a joyful dance to “Baile Inovidable,” a moment symbolizing the beautiful fusion of mainstream pop and unapologetic Latin identity.
Fellow Puerto Rican superstar Ricky Martin provided the next poignant segment. Seated on a plastic chair that mirrored the cover of Bad Bunny’s Grammy-winning album “Debí tirar más fotos,” Martin sang a brief version of “lo que le pasó a Hawái.” The performance took a solemn turn as dancers behind him enacted an electrocution following an apagón, or blackout—a stark reference to the prolonged power crisis in Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria.
Powerful Political Undertones and a Message of Unity
The performance was layered with subtle yet potent political statements. A cream Zara jersey stamped with the number “64” was a potential nod to the first-reported death toll of Hurricane Maria. In perhaps the most loaded moment, a clip from Bad Bunny’s recent Grammy speech—where he declared “ICE out”—played on a small TV as a young boy, reminiscent of a child recently detained by ICE, was handed the singer’s Grammy award.
These themes culminated in the finale. As dancers carried flags from across the Americas to an electrified “Café Con Ron,” Bad Bunny held a football inscribed with the words, “Together, we are America.” He ended his time on stage by declaring “God Bless America” and naming every country in the Americas, culminating with his “motherland,” Puerto Rico. Behind him, a billboard flashed the night’s ultimate message: “The only thing more powerful than hate is love.”
The show closed with the hit “DTMF,” leaving the field a massive dance party under a shower of fireworks. As the first primarily Spanish-language headliner in Super Bowl history, Bad Bunny didn’t just perform; he made a declaration that Latin culture is here, powerful, and meant to be shared by everyone on the dance floor.
