In front of a global audience, Bad Bunny headlined the Apple Music Super Bowl Halftime Show on Feb. 8 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif. As one of the world’s most-streamed artists and a prominent figure in Latin music, Bad Bunny’s appearance marked a historic moment for the NFL’s biggest broadcast of the year.
Featuring music and visuals rooted in Puerto Rican culture, such as the sugarcane imagery referencing his hometown of Vega Baja, the show sparked widespread discussion across social media, news outlets and political commentary. Some viewed the halftime as a long-overdue celebration of diversity, while others saw it as a polarizing departure from past halftime traditions. Regardless, the show fueled fruitful debate among pop culture audiences.
Bad Bunny, whose given name is Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, wore a head-to-toe white ensemble styled by Storm Pablo and Marvin Douglas Linares. His outfit included a custom football jersey with Ocasio, his family name, as a tribute to his mother and late uncle, paired with a collared shirt, tie and tailored chinos, which rested atop his Bad Bunny x Adidas BadBo 1.0 sneakers. His choice to sport the affordable fast-fashion brand Zara stood out on a stage typically dominated by luxury designers.
Bad Bunny set the tone of the halftime show with the opener and hit song “Tití Me Preguntó.” The show unfolded as a carefully staged visual narrative, with a casita-style small traditional home at the center of the field surrounded by sugarcane fields and traditional dancers — all were deliberate nods to Puerto Rican culture.
Throughout the performance, Bad Bunny incorporated smaller symbolic moments that resonated with viewers familiar with his roots. One of the most talked-about gestures came when he handed a Grammy Award to a young boy onstage, a moment interpreted as a tribute to Puerto Rican youth and the idea of passing on cultural pride to the next generation.
The surprise guest appearances of Lady Gaga and Latin music icon Ricky Martin expanded the show’s cross-genre appeal. In an unexpected moment, a real wedding ceremony took place onstage, highlighting the theme of love.
In an Instagram post, Lady Gaga praised Bad Bunny for the thoughtfulness behind the show.
“Thank you Benito for including me in this powerful, important, and meaningful performance,” Gaga said.
The show concluded with a billboard message that read “The only thing more powerful than hate is love,” a testament to how Bad Bunny used his large American media platform to promote unity and love.
Bad Bunny’s halftime show garnered a mixed reaction, ranging from pride and cultural recognition to criticism.
President Donald Trump criticized the show on Truth Social.
“The Super Bowl Halftime Show is absolutely terrible, one of the worst, EVER!” Trump wrote.
Supporters of the performance pushed back online, emphasizing the Super Bowl’s international audience and the growing number of American listeners of Spanish music.
Jay-Z, who took part in the selection process of this year’s halftime performer, explained the thought behind his choice.
“What Benito has done and continues to do for Puerto Rico is truly inspiring. We are honored to have him on the world’s biggest stage,” Jay-Z said.
Bad Bunny’s halftime show demonstrated the power of entertainment and performance in American politics. The set also highlighted the increasing diversity of the Super Bowl’s audience. More than anything, Bad Bunny showed how music can be an opportunity to showcase culture and community.
