On Feb. 8, the Super Bowl made history with the first primarily non-English halftime show performance, headlined by Puerto Rican rapper Bad Bunny. Just a week before the halftime show, his album “DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS” won a Grammy for Album of the Year. He had a clear vision of what he wanted to accomplish with this opportunity, saying that he intended his show to be lively and include many elements of Puerto Rican culture.
Despite his popularity, his performance caused a major controversy. Because his music is in Spanish, many people viewed him as “un-American,” even though Puerto Rico is part of the United States. Notable people spoke out against the show and Bad Bunny, including President Donald Trump, Chris Brown and Nicki Minaj. The National Football League (NFL) stuck with its decision to have Bad Bunny perform despite the backlash since they have a goal of growing their international audience and saw Bad Bunny as the perfect performer to connect with fans all over the world.
There was so much backlash about the NFL’s choice in performer that an alternative halftime show was scheduled. The organization Turning Point USA created the “All-American Halftime Show,” which reached over 6 million viewers. According to Turning Point USA spokesman Andrew Kolvet, it was meant for every American to enjoy a fun and exciting halftime show without an agenda.
Bad Bunny’s official halftime show was deeply rooted in Puerto Rican culture. The set included a casita, a traditional, rural cement house; a barber shop; a bodega; and a wedding scene. There were many questions surrounding the bride and groom in the wedding scene, and it was later confirmed it was a real couple that actually got married. They had originally invited Bad Bunny to their wedding, but he ended up inviting them to get married at his halftime show instead. Another notable part of the performance was the hundreds of people dressed as sugar cane, who gained a lot of attention on social media for the unique job. Sugar cane has deep roots in Puerto Rico’s history through colonialism and exploitation. By including this detail in the show, Bad Bunny ensures that the Island’s complex past is not overlooked.
Bad Bunny also had two surprise guests, Lady Gaga and Ricky Martin. Bad Bunny chose Lady Gaga because he is a longtime fan of hers and has always dreamt of performing with her. Lady Gaga performed a salsa version of her song, “Die With a Smile” and Ricky Martin, who is also a famous Puerto Rican singer, performed Bad Bunny’s song “LO QUE LE PASÓ A HAWAii.”
Beyond the well-thought out set design, the performance carried powerful messages about love, unity, and believing in oneself. In between songs, Bad Bunny talked directly into the camera and in Spanish said, “If I’m here today at Super Bowl 60 it’s because I never, ever stopped believing in myself […] you are worth more than you think.” Then, there was a scene of a little kid watching Bad Bunny win Album of the Year before the singer walks up to him and hands the boy his Grammy.
During the last song, background dancers ran across the field carrying flags of different countries across the Americas. Bad Bunny ended the show by saying, “God bless America,” and listed the countries’ names, before revealing a message written on the football he was carrying: “Together, we are America.” The closing image showed a sign reading, “the only thing stronger than hate is love,” reinforcing his goal of promoting unity and connection during a time of increasing division in the country.
