Bad Bunny’s Stage Set For Historic Super Bowl LX Halftime Show
“Debí tirar más fotos de cuando te tuve
Debí darte más beso’ y abrazo’ las vece’ que pude”
At first, this idea was sparked by the announcement that Bad Bunny was performing at the upcoming Super Bowl Halftime show. This was set to be a post of celebration and pride as I am a man of Puerto Rican descent excited about this representation on a stage it has not fully seen to this capacity. That while myself and others of my kin were celebrating, there were others clamoring for “real American” representation like, say, Kid Rock, would make more sense.
Then the root of this idea was further impassioned by the fact he was nominated for Album of the Year at the GRAMMYs (and we know all too well the racial undertones living under the floorboards that is the ‘house of history’ these awards have carried). Little did I know how much things would escalate from September’s announcement to the week of the Super Bowl.
Let’s take a quick breather to walk through this disclaimer for the words & thoughts you’re reading:
I am but one grain of rice in this crazy locrio we call Earth. These thoughts are of my own and representative of my perspective, but maybe we see eye-to-eye somewhere. And I was born in Arecibo, P (fockin’) Erre. And no amount of “no sabo” Spanglish can take that away from me, or anyone in a similar position of growing up as an Americanized child who followed a parent to the mainland of the good ol’ U-S-of-A looking to work for a better life than what they had. Emphasis on mainland, because all Puerto Ricans are born as citizens of the United States (which even that has it’s own layered history that is ever-developing, as colonialism is also a worthwhile topic to keep in the back pocket throughout these conversations). Meaning, in effect: Benito could run for president, if he so chooses to. So yeah, apply all this to everything you’re about to read.
If any words, sentences, and/or facts so far have upset you or made you uncomfortable… good. This is for you as much as it is for me & mine.
There’s a ton of laundry we can unpack on this lawn but I’m a fan of world-building, so let’s start by talking about Super Bowl Halftime shows.
Before the 90’s, this was largely just a regular halftime show. Get a college marching band with a bit of talent & creativity to do a dog-and-pony show with the NFL budget behind them ‘cus it’s the championship game. Then ‘91 and ‘92 saw some involvement from talent like New Kids On The Block and Gloria Estefan, respectively, so the culture was changing but largely still featured said bands and were not the musical extravaganzas we see today. With that being the case, leading up to that 1992 event, one show on FOX that was at its peak.. you may have heard of it: “In Living Color”… had an idea. Led by the team of Keenen Wayans, Eric Gold, Marlon Wayans and other cast/crew, they put together a special that culminated in a performance from Color Me Badd to compete with the ‘92 Super Bowl Halftime show and pull some viewers. It wasn’t malicious though, as they had a countdown in the bottom corner for when the game was back on. They largely succeeded. The NFL’s response? Enlisting Michael Jackson for the 1993 Super Bowl Halftime show. The rest is history.
Which leads us to February 2026. Bad Bunny walks into the Super Bowl LX Halftime show with three more GRAMMYs to his trophy case, as he was awarded for Album of the Year & Best Música Urbana Album for “DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS,” plus Best Global Music Performance for "EoO." Also off the wake of his first signature shoe with Adidas. Also off the wake of an appearance on SNL in October for the fourth time (2nd time hosting). ALSO off the wake of a 31-show residency in Puerto Rico from July to September, the month in which his involvement in the halftime show was announced. A residency that boosted the local economy of the Borikén island by an estimate of at least $200 million.
It’s safe to say that Benito is on fire. He’s doing all this off the strength of an album that is a love letter to Puerto Rico: his home, a place he’s unapologetically clear about supporting through the years of turmoil and political distress. Specifically now as countless across the nation are being chastised for existing as a Brown person. Compounded by recent years of protest when many across the nation have been berated for existing as a Black person. In a land that has a historically rich & abundant foundation of devaluing non-White, non-men, non-Cis people simply, for, existing, as, themselves.
So when this album, this artist, becomes owner of the first fully non-English speaking album to win the GRAMMY for Album of the Year? When, before accepting the award, he’s televised taking an emotional moment to himself with the audience cheering him on?? When BOTH his acceptance speeches are speaking, not just against the injustice of stripping people of their identity & dignity in the pursuit of “homeland security,” but FOR his people; FOR love??? It’s hard to sensibly root against him. But people sure are aligning their truths to hating this man and what/who he represents. And it’s interesting to see. In fact, it’s bewildering.
In the big 2026, we are consistently seeing unprecedented milestones being accomplished that begin with “first woman to,” or “first non-White person to,” and there’s still a not-small percentage of this country meeting that news with chagrin. People more focused on their negative perceptions of this being the first in the history of thirty-two Super Bowl Halftime shows post-MJ that will feature primarily non-English speaking music. As if Spanish isn’t the most common non-English language in America. As if California (you know, where Santa Clara resides) isn’t the state with the largest Hispanic population.
Is it about lack of popularity? It can’t be. The Boricua icon is a global sensation boasting the title of Spotify’s top-streamed artist in 2020, 2021, 2022, and most recently 2025 with 19.8 billion streams. Is it because Benito isn’t from here? Well, as aforementioned, he has more claim to the U.S. presidency than the current First Lady. Is it because he’s an immoral piece of scum? Well, he’s oft-aligned on the justice-y side of humanitarian discourse and I’ve seen the current president elected twice despite all of his shortcomings, alleged or otherwise blatantly posted on official channels so … yeah, zero idea what the issue could be… at all, haha!!
And for the crowds that say “keep politics out of sports,” or “shut up & dribble,” this isn’t the first, or second, or third time we could potentially see a halftime show that comments on the current landscape of America. With reports that ICE will be all around the event, whether Bad Bunny curates some grand commentary or not (I think he will), those 15 minutes of boomin’ Spanish tunes will still pour out of Levi’s Stadium and Santa Clara to uproariously reverberate throughout the world. That is already a huge win right there.
Even the commissioner of the NFL spoke out and (in my eyes) essentially said to shut up & brush up on your Spanish because they trust Bad Bunny to put on a show that unites people with his creativity and talent. Plus if it’s about representation, there’s still Green Day opening up the festivities/game. I’d say if anyone were going to send a message of dissent towards the current presidential regime, it would be the punk rock band that hasn’t been quiet about their feelings toward the ‘leader of the free world’. Not the artist that, along with anti-ICE rhetoric, led his recent GRAMMY acceptance speeches with messages of love & unification against the powers that enjoy terrorizing. In short:
“We don’t hate them, we love our people, we love our family, and that’s the way to do it: with love. Don’t forget that, please.”
Either way, the accolades are forever, the love is wide-spread, by Spanish speaking and non-Spanish speaking humans alike, and the Super Bowl this Sunday, February 8th, between the New England Patriots and the Seattle Seahawks, will be one for the ages.
Stream “DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS” today, tomorrow, loudly & proudly ‘til the sky falls.