Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl Halftime performance symbolized a message of cultural inclusivity and shared identity before millions of viewers but the show was not met with only praise.
Backlash
Bunny performance has been highly anticipated with scrutiny from Charlie Kirk and Bill Montgomery founded organization, Turning Point USA, and also backed by President Donald Trump. The organization announced last Oct. that it would have its own halftime show to compete with Bunny’s show.
Pop/Rock Artist Kid Rock headlined the streamed show, with country music performances: Brantley Gilbert, Lee Brice and Gabby Barrett. It ended with a montage to deceased activist Charlie Kirk.
“Absolutely terrible, one of the worst, EVER,” Trump said in a post on social media after the performance. “Slap in the face” to our country… nothing inspirational about this mess of a Halftime Show.”
Bunny’s Grammy Response
The 68th Grammy Awards on Feb. 1st saw Bunny win three Grammy Awards: Album of the Year for DeBi TiRAR MaS FOToS, Best Musica Urbana Album and Best Music Performance for EoO.
“Ice out… were not savage, were not animals, were not aliens, we are humans and we are Americans,” Bunny said after receiving Best Musica Urbana Album, in response to the federal ICE agency’s recent mass deportations.
Months ago when it was announced Bunny would perform, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem confirmed ICE would be in attendance. She called the NFL “weak,” and expressed that ICE’s presence would be “all over that place.”
Bad Bunny’s Performance
The 13 minute creative and high energy performance at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California was filled with cultural references, dancing, instruments and homages to his heritage. It featured stars such as Lady Gaga, Cardi B, Karol G and Ricky Martin. Bunny performed many popular hits including “Titi Me Pregunto,” “Yo Perreo Sola,” and “Monaco.”
Towards the end of the show Bunny called out South and North American Countries with a mass of people behind him playing instruments and holding the country flags, calling out his home island of Puerto Rico last. He said “God Bless America,” before naming each flag.
To wrap up his performance, he held out a football into the camera that read “Together We Are America,” before spiking it to the ground. All of this occurred with the main jumbotron in the stadium reading “The Only Thing More Powerful Than Hate Is Love.” (Lo único más poderoso que el odio, es el amor.)
It is statedto be the most watched halftime performance in NFL history, with a record breaking 135+ million viewers. Also the first time a solo Latin male artist headlined the event and performed majority of it in Spanish.
In a moment to entertain, Bunny’s socially conscious and purposeful performance delivered a message of unity. Sharing that America’s identity isn’t singular, but shared.
