Bad Bunny Turns Super Bowl Into Giant Puerto Rican Street Party Amid Trump Backlash
Puerto Rican superstar Bad Bunny stole the spotlight at Sunday’s Super Bowl, transforming the stadium into a lively street party celebrating Puerto Rico and its culture. The reggaeton icon’s Spanish-language performance emphasized unity, heritage, and resilience — even as it drew sharp criticism from former President Donald Trump.
Fans had eagerly anticipated the 31-year-old singer’s set, amid speculation he might reignite his public criticism of the Trump administration’s immigration policies. Instead, Benito Antonio Martinez Ocasio, popularly known as Bad Bunny, delivered a vibrant cultural showcase that blended tradition, music, and subtle political messaging.
The performance opened with hits “Titi Me Pregunto” and “Yo Perreo Sola”, featuring a sugar cane plantation, a traditional piragua cart, and a staged wedding, all set against his signature “La Casita” backdrop — a recreation of a Puerto Rican home. Celebrity guests including Pedro Pascal, Jessica Alba, and Cardi B joined the festivities, adding star power to the colorful spectacle.
Dressed first in an all-white ensemble with a football jersey marked “64” and “Ocasio,” Bad Bunny later switched to a sleek suit jacket, seamlessly blending street energy with refined style. His performance also addressed Puerto Rico’s ongoing struggles, including the unreliable power grid, through his song “El Apagon” (Blackout), during which he carried a Puerto Rican flag, signaling pride and solidarity with his homeland.
A particularly touching moment came when Bad Bunny presented a golden gramophone to a young boy watching the Grammys on an old television — sparking online rumors that the child represented an Ecuadoran boy recently detained by U.S. immigration authorities. The NFL later clarified that the boy was an actor, while an Instagram post from him used the hashtag #youngbadbunny.
Surprise musical guests further elevated the show. Lady Gaga performed a Latin-infused version of “Die With A Smile”, the only English-language song in the set, while Ricky Martin also joined to celebrate Puerto Rican music on a global stage.
Bad Bunny, Spotify’s most-streamed artist worldwide four times and winner of the Grammy Album of the Year for “Debi Tirar Mas Fotos” — the first Spanish-language album to earn music’s top accolade — made history by headlining the Super Bowl without performing in English. Despite conservative backlash, including Trump claiming “nobody understands a word this guy is saying,” the performance resonated with millions, highlighting the power of cultural pride over division.
The show ended on a note of unity. After naming Latin American countries alongside the United States and Canada, Bad Bunny spiked a football reading “Together, we are America,” while a stadium screen declared: “The only thing more powerful than hate is love.”
Hailing from Vega Baja, Puerto Rico, Bad Bunny rose from supermarket bagger to global superstar through viral SoundCloud hits, a hometown concert residency, and an international tour promoting “Debi Tirar Mas Fotos” — cementing his status as a cultural icon for Puerto Rico and beyond.