Unifying Americans: Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl Halftime Show
On February 8, with a total of 135 million viewers, Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl halftime performance became the most watched halftime show ever. One thing was clear throughout the almost 14 minutes he was on the field, this performance was not just an homage to Puerto Rican and Latino culture, but an act of resistance against the backdrop of aggressive immigration crackdowns and targeted racist rhetoric.
Recent Rampant Racism
The months leading up to Bad Bunny’s performance were filled with racist backlash from conservatives, many of which were calling the choice for him to perform un-American. Most of this hate stemmed from the fact that Bad Bunny sings almost exclusively in Spanish, as he originates from Puerto Rico (notably an American territory), and his critique of Trump. The conservative organization Turning Point USA, took their outrage a step further and held their own alternative halftime show, which they branded “The All American Halftime Show.”
This racism hasn’t been discouraged, in fact, it’s been nothing but encouraged by our very own president. On Feb. 5, a video shared from President Trump’s Truth Social account included false claims of voter fraud and a racist animation of former President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama as apes. Initially, the White House defended the video and left it up for nearly 12 hours, though after receiving enough bipartisan backlash they eventually removed it and claimed the video was “erroneously” posted by a staffer.
Skepticism behind this explanation does have its merit as the video was posted late at night during one of the president’s regular social media spams and was originally defended by the White House. Trump has claimed it wasn’t his fault and declined to apologize.
The Symbolism Behind His Performance
Bad Bunny’s performance was rich with cultural significance and symbolism. Opening with a scene of sugarcane fields, he called back to the history of his homeland, paying homage to Puerto Rico’s main cash crop, and honored the generations of workers whose labor has contributed to the nourishment of the country.
Throughout the performance, Bad Bunny stopped by several sets depicting everyday scenes from Latino communities, including a “coco frio” (fresh coconut water) stand, a nail salon, a Villa’s taco stand, La Marqueta, a cash-only gold and silver stall, and a group of older men playing dominoes.
Among the everyday scenes was a piraguas (shaved ice) stand, where each syrup bottle highlighted Latino diversity with the colors of different Latin American flags, and a woman serving alcohol. This woman happened to be none other than María Antonia “Toñita” Cay, owner of Brooklyn’s Caribbean Social Club, one of the last standing Puerto Rican social clubs in New York.
A central element of the show was La Casita, a small pink house modeled after traditional Puerto Rican houses, a familiar set seen throughout his recent tour and residency in Puerto Rico. For this performance, La Casita was filled with recognizable Latino faces including Pedro Pascal, Jessica Alba, Cardi B, Karol G, Ronald Acuna, and Young Miko.
During the show, Bad Bunny surprised the audience when he brought out two guest performers, Lady Gaga and Ricky Martin. Lady Gaga performed a salsa version of her and Bruno Mars’ song “Die With A Smile” while wearing the colors of the original Puerto Rican flag and the flor de maga, Puerto Rico’s national flower. Her performance took place on a set meant to resemble Castillo San Felipe del Morro, more commonly known as El Morro.
Ricky Martin’s cameo started with him sitting on a white plastic chair, referencing Bad Bunny’s latest album cover and the furniture commonly found at gatherings, in front of plantain trees. Ricky Martin sang the chorus of Bad Bunny’s song “LO QUE LE PASÓ A HAWAii,” a track addressing the U.S. colonization of Hawaii, cautioning against the same thing happening to Puerto Rico, and condemning the consequent gentrification that pushes natives out of their communities.
Near the end of his performance, Bad Bunny and dancers could be seen climbing sparking electrical poles while he sang his 2022 protest song “El Apagón” (The Blackout), a reference to Hurricane Maria’s aftermath and the persistent power outages plaguing the island’s electrical grid system.
These moments barely scratch the surface of each and every cultural reference and uplifting message weaved throughout the entirety of his performance. Turning a Super Bowl halftime show into a celebration of culture and display of resilience, Bad Bunny’s unifying message was clear.
The Message
There were many symbols promoting a wider sense of Pan-Americanism and unity throughout the halftime show, though perhaps the biggest one came at the very end when Bad Bunny shouted “God Bless America” and then proceeded to name every country across North, South, and Central America while walking across the field holding a football with the words “Together, we are America” written on it. As he walked, a procession of flags from countries he listed trailed behind him while a billboard with the words “The only thing more powerful than hate is love” lit up behind him.
Instead of giving into recent hateful rhetoric, moving forward we should use Bad Bunny’s performance as inspiration to unite and uplift each other. We must remember that the diversity we have throughout our continents is what makes us special.
