Bad Bunny and Lady Gaga delivered a show-stopping Super Bowl half-time performance in Santa Clara, California, almost entirely in Spanish, a move celebrated as a powerful statement of unity and cultural pride.
The 31-year-old Benito Antonio Martinez Ocasio, known globally as Bad Bunny, took the stage with a high-energy spectacle honoring his Puerto Rican heritage. But the performance wasn’t just a concert; it sparked immediate reaction, including criticism from former President Donald Trump and a counter-programmed “alternative” half-time show organized by Turning Point USA featuring Kid Rock and other country artists.
A Historic Performance, A Divided Response
The half-time show marked a significant moment, with Bad Bunny becoming a central figure in a cultural conversation extending far beyond the football field.
- Bad Bunny’s performance was predominantly in Spanish, a first for the Super Bowl half-time show.
- The show featured appearances from Lady Gaga, Ricky Martin, Pedro Pascal, Cardi B, and others.
- Former President Trump publicly criticized the performance as “terrible.”
- A real couple was married onstage during Bad Bunny’s set, with the artist serving as a witness.
The performance opened with evocative scenes of Puerto Rico – domino games, lush sugar cane fields – set to Bad Bunny’s 2022 hit, Titi Me Pregunto, transitioning into the energetic Perreo Sola performed atop a vibrant casita, or little house. The energy escalated dramatically when Bad Bunny burst through the roof of the casita during the iconic beat drop of Daddy Yankee’s Gasolina, a clear nod to the pioneers of Latin music.
Lady Gaga joined Bad Bunny onstage for a salsa-infused rendition of her collaboration with Bruno Mars, Die with a Smile. The stage then transformed into a lively block party atmosphere for performances of Baile Inolvidable and NuevaYol, during which Bad Bunny shared a toast with the owner of one of New York City’s last remaining Puerto Rican social clubs.
Fellow Puerto Rican artist Ricky Martin then took the stage to perform Lo Que Le Paso a Hawaii – or What Happened to Hawaii – a song that has become an anthem for Puerto Rican autonomy. The performance also included appearances by Mandalorian star Pedro Pascal, actress Jessica Alba, rapper Cardi B, singer Karol G, and influencer Alix Earle.
The show reached a poignant moment when a couple exchanged vows onstage while Bad Bunny performed, confirmed by a spokesperson to be a legitimate wedding, with the artist serving as an official witness. The couple had reportedly invited Bad Bunny to their wedding, but he proposed they instead share the moment with the world during the half-time show.
Bad Bunny also used the platform to address issues facing his homeland, scaling power lines during a performance of Apagon and waving the Puerto Rican flag, a symbolic reference to the ongoing power outages and recovery challenges following Hurricane Maria.
Throughout the performance, dancers waved flags representing Latin American countries, the United States, and Canada. Bad Bunny concluded the musical portion of the show with a heartfelt message, saying, “God Bless America,” before extending blessings to other nations and ultimately paying tribute to “my motherland, mi patria, Puerto Rico.” He held a football inscribed with the words “Together We Are America.”
The performance culminated in a dazzling display of fireworks, a massive Puerto Rican flag, and a Jumbotron displaying the message: “The only thing more powerful than hate is love.”
The reaction was swift and polarized. Former President Trump took to his Truth Social account, calling the performance “absolutely terrible, one of the worst, EVER!” He continued, stating it was “an affront to the Greatness of America” and criticized the lyrics and dancing, deeming it unsuitable for children.
The Seattle Seahawks defeated the New England Patriots 29-13 in the main event of the American football season, a rematch of the 2015 Super Bowl.
Bad Bunny’s performance followed a recent string of accolades, including a historic win at the Grammys where he became the first artist to win Album of the Year for a record sung entirely in Spanish. He also secured the Best Global Music Performance award for EoO and the Best Musica Urbana Album award for the fourth consecutive year.
During his Grammy acceptance speech, Bad Bunny, a vocal critic of previous immigration policies, called for Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers to show compassion, stating, “We’re not savages, we’re not animals, we’re not aliens, we are humans and we are Americans. …The only thing that is more powerful than hate is love.”
His latest album, Debi Tirar Mas Fotos, a 17-track record, blends genres like reggaeton, pop, salsa, and house with traditional Puerto Rican music, serving as a tribute to the island.
Green Day performed the opening ceremony, and Charlie Puth sang the U.S. national anthem prior to the game.
