- Despite the cultural celebration, Trump, who did not attend the event, took to his Truth Social platform to criticise the show
- The 14-minute spectacle was rich with symbolism and featured guest appearances from Lady Gaga and Ricky Martin
- Bad Bunny closed the performance by once again declaring “God bless America” and standing before the flags of Puerto Rico
Global music star Bad Bunny made Super Bowl history with a groundbreaking half-time performance delivered entirely in Spanish, even as former US President Donald Trump publicly dismissed the show as “terrible.”
Eko Hot Blog gathered that the 31-year-old Puerto Rican artist, born Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, became the first performer to headline a Super Bowl half-time show without switching to English, using the moment to celebrate his roots, Latin culture and unity across the Americas.
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The 14-minute spectacle was rich with symbolism and featured guest appearances from Lady Gaga and Ricky Martin, alongside surprise cameos from celebrities including Pedro Pascal, Cardi B, Karol G and Jessica Alba.
Many of them appeared on the porch of Bad Bunny’s signature casita set — a recurring stage design styled after a traditional Puerto Rican home.
Bad Bunny, who was Spotify’s most-streamed artist worldwide in 2025, performed a medley of his biggest hits, including Tití Me Preguntó, MONACO and BAILE INoLVIDABLE, against a vibrant Latin-themed backdrop that recreated familiar neighbourhood scenes such as a nail salon and local bar.
Although the performance avoided direct political statements, its messaging was clear. At one point, Bad Bunny briefly spoke English to say “God bless America” before naming countries across Central, South and North America as dancers raised their national flags.
A large sign behind the stage read, “The only thing more powerful than hate is love,” while a football he later held carried the message, “Together, We Are America.”
Despite the cultural celebration, Trump, who did not attend the event, took to his Truth Social platform to criticise the show, calling it one of the worst half-time performances ever and claiming Americans could not understand the lyrics.
A rival “All-American Halftime Show” was organised elsewhere by conservative group Turning Point USA and headlined by Trump supporter Kid Rock.
The Super Bowl performance marked Bad Bunny’s first US appearance since the release of his Grammy-winning album Debí Tirar Más Fotos (I Should Have Taken More Photos).
Puerto Rico remained central throughout the set, from his dramatic entrance through a sugarcane field to visual tributes to the island’s history and struggles.
In a powerful moment, Bad Bunny climbed an electricity pylon while rapping — a reference many interpreted as a nod to the devastation caused by Hurricane Maria in 2017.
He also wore a beige sweater marked with the number “64,” believed to reference the official death toll from the disaster, a figure that has long been disputed by critics who say thousands more died. Puerto Ricans had previously accused the Trump administration of failing to provide adequate disaster relief.
Family and legacy themes also featured prominently. The performance included a staged wedding scene among Latino dancers and a symbolic gesture in which Bad Bunny handed his Grammy award to a child, as audio from his 2026 Grammy acceptance speech played in the background.
Although he avoided direct criticism of Trump during the Super Bowl, Bad Bunny has been outspoken in the past. At last week’s Grammy Awards, he openly criticised US immigration authorities, calling for “ICE out,” and previously explained that concerns over immigration enforcement were among the reasons he avoided touring the US mainland.
The show was not Bad Bunny’s first Super Bowl appearance, he previously performed alongside Shakira in 2020, but this time he commanded the stage alone, delivering confident vocals and tightly choreographed performances despite early sound issues.
Lady Gaga joined him for a salsa-inspired version of Die With A Smile, while fellow Puerto Rican star Ricky Martin performed Lo Que Le Pasó A Hawaii, a song warning against cultural erasure.
Bad Bunny closed the performance by once again declaring “God bless America” and standing before the flags of Puerto Rico and the United States displayed side by side.
For many viewers, the performance marked a defining moment for Latin representation on the world’s biggest sporting stage — a bold celebration of culture, identity and unity that will likely be remembered long after the final whistle.
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