bad bunny
Bad Bunny promised that “the world will dance during his momentous Apple Music performance at Super Bowl LX halftime on Sunday, and he delivered on that promise and more.
On the heels of making history after his album “Debí Tirar Más Fotos” became the first Spanish-language album to win Album of the Year at the Grammys last week, the Latin superstar continued her historic streak by delivering a spectacular performance at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California.
the sizzling place It marked not only the first time Bad Bunny headlined the Super Bowl, but also the first time a Latin and Spanish-speaking artist headlined the Super Bowl halftime show as a solo artist.
Bad Bunny, however, was not completely alone. She brought out Lady Gaga for a Latin-inspired performance of her and Bruno Mars’ “Die With a Smile.” Ricky Martin, a singer and Puerto Rican native best known for sparking a Latin music explosion in the ’90s, emerged as a special guest.
Bad Bunny not only generated warmth with those guests, but also surprised fans with multiple celebrity cameos, including Karol G, Cardi B, Jessica Alba, Alix Earle and Pedro Pascal, during his performance. He also paid tribute to other artists, with nods to songs like “Gasolina” by Daddy Yankee.
Bad Bunny, born Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, sang entirely in Spanish, becoming the first halftime show performer to do so.
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Bad Bunny took the stage dressed all in white while a field of sugar cane surrounded him. The dancers showed off their best moves to the rhythm of their arsenal of songs, including “Tití Me Preguntó,” “Monaco,” “Party,” and “Safaera.”
A variety of scenes paid homage to Puerto Rican culture, with older men playing dominoes and others enjoying piragua, a traditional Puerto Rican shaved ice dessert, in the background. A couple also got married on stage, standing together and holding hands before a wedding officiant. The wedding was 100% real, according to Rohan Nadkarni of Variety and NBC Sports.
Bad Bunny also said “God bless America” before shouting out each Latin American country individually, including Puerto Rico, Mexico and Bolivia.
The six-time Grammy winner delivered the perfect blow to his critics when a giant billboard behind him displayed the words “The only thing more powerful than hate is love.”
Bad Bunny’s selection to perform at the Super Bowl, announced in September, sparked an immediate backlash from right-wing commentators, many of whom complained about his Spanish-language music and condemnation of President Donald Trump’s immigration policies.
The uproar led the right-wing organization Turning Point USA to announce what it billed as an “all-American halftime show” to compete with Bad Bunny’s halftime show. Trump supporter Kid Rock headlined the Turning Point USA event.
San Francisco Chronicle/Hearst Newspapers via Getty Images
Accepting the Grammy for Best Urban Music Album for “Debí Tirar Más Fotos” earlier this month, Bad Bunny attacked Trump and his lethal immigration crackdown.
“Before I thank God, I’m going to say: ICE out,” he said, referring to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. “We are not savages. We are not animals. We are not aliens. We are humans and we are Americans. Hate becomes more powerful with more hate.”
Bad Bunny added: “The only thing that is more powerful than hate is love. So please, we have to be different. If we fight, we have to do it with love. Yes. We don’t hate them. We love our people, we love our family, and that’s the way to do it, with love. Don’t forget that, please.”
the singer dedicated his Grammy award to “all the people who had to leave their homeland, their country, to follow their dreams.”
Characteristically, the president trashed Bad Bunny’s performance in a lengthy Truth Social post on Sunday.
“The Super Bowl halftime show is absolutely terrible, one of the worst ever! It makes no sense, is an affront to America’s greatness and does not represent our standards of success, creativity or excellence,” part of the president’s post read.
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Bad Bunny is no stranger to lighting up the Super Bowl stage. In 2020, he joined Jennifer Lopez and Shakira as a special guest during their Emmy-winning Super Bowl halftime act.
Green Day, Charlie Puth, Coco Jones and Brandi Carlile also graced the Super Bowl stage before kickoff.