Bad Bunny transformed Super Bowl LX’s halftime show into a powerful celebration of Latino identity, weaving together cultural pride, political statement, and inclusive vision across 13 minutes that resonated far beyond football.
The Puerto Rican superstar didn’t just perform—he made a declaration about belonging, identity, and what it means to be American in 2025.
His closing words said everything: “God Bless America, o sea…” before naming every country in North and South America, redefining “American” for millions watching.
From the opening seconds at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio made his intent crystal clear.
Opening With Purpose and Pride
“Que rico es ser Latino,” Bad Bunny declared to start the show—a phrase that translates roughly to “How wonderful it is to be Latino,” though the Spanish carries deeper, more indulgent meaning.
Those opening words weren’t accidental. Bad Bunny’s first words always carry weight, and this time he expanded the casa (home) he typically celebrates in San Juan to encompass something far bigger.
He immediately launched into a rapid-fire medley featuring more than a dozen songs, almost exclusively in Spanish, including massive hits like “Tití Me Preguntó” and “Yo Perreo Sola.”
Home as the Centerpiece
Bad Bunny’s most striking visual element remained consistent with his artistic vision: a typical Puerto Rican casita serving as the stage centerpiece.
This wasn’t new territory. During his 31-night San Juan residency last summer, he built his entire stage around this same concept—a familiar Puerto Rican home that travels with him from Mexico to Colombia to California.
The set featured barber shops and bodegas, family gatherings and elders playing dominos. Everything that makes Puerto Rican culture vibrant and alive found representation on football’s biggest stage.
He populated his front porch with people he loves: musicians and actors including Karol G, Cardi B, Pedro Pascal, and Young Miko.
A Grammy Moment That Spoke Volumes
One particularly poignant scene showed a family sitting together, watching television. On screen appeared an image of Bad Bunny from one week earlier, accepting his Grammy for album of the year for DeBI TiRAR MaS FOToS.
Then real-life Benito stepped into the frame and handed his Grammy to the family’s smallest member—a little boy.
The symbolism cut deep. Perhaps he was representing what he imagined Puerto Rico felt watching him win. Maybe he spoke to his younger self. Either interpretation delivered the same message: Puerto Rico’s future shines bright with him leading culturally.
Political Fire Through Party Anthems
His performance of “El Apagón” demonstrated how Bad Bunny blends politics with celebration seamlessly.
Todo el mundo quiere ser latino, pero le falta sazón, batería y reggaeton.
The line translates to “The whole world wants to be Latino but they lack seasoning, drums and reggaeton.” At any Latin American club, this track creates an unspoken agreement—you drop everything and sing with your full chest.
Benito delivered this message while atop a flickering Luma light post. Luma Energy, the private company responsible for Puerto Rico’s power infrastructure, has become synonymous with power outages—one of the bleaker aspects of island life.
He transformed even Puerto Rico’s worst experiences into something legendary, using hardship as a vehicle for pride.
A Wedding, A Message, A Philosophy
An actual couple got married on stage during the performance—they had originally invited Bad Bunny to their wedding before being invited to have the ceremony during halftime instead.
The wedding party overflowed with shared Latino experiences: cutting cake, Bad Bunny spinning with a little girl, attempting to wake a boy from mid-party siesta. Universal memories flashing by like a highlight reel of Latin American life.
Lady Gaga appeared as the wedding singer, performing “Die With a Smile” in a salsa arrangement. Her inclusion wasn’t pandering—the song’s refrain resonated perfectly with Latin American wedding sentiment.
If the world was ending, I’d wanna be next to you.
That message aligned perfectly with an underlying philosophy found at any Latin American wedding: Hay que vivir. You have to live.
Passing the Torch, Carrying the Message
Beyond Lady Gaga, only one other artist joined Bad Bunny on stage: Ricky Martin, who performed one of Benito’s most political tracks, “Lo Que le Pasó a Hawaii.”
Last week, Martin published an op-ed congratulating Bad Bunny on his Grammy win, writing a message that captured the performance’s essence perfectly.
This achievement is for a generation you taught that their identity is non-negotiable and that success is not at odds with authenticity.
Controversy, Backlash, and Standing Firm
Growing anticipation surrounded just how political Bad Bunny would get, especially following Grammy stage comments and conservative attacks after his halftime announcement.
Opposition included an alternative concert featuring Kid Rock and Brantley Gilbert. Viewers dissected every performance inch, searching for political symbolism—sometimes finding it where it didn’t exist.
Rumors spread immediately that the little boy in the living room scene might be Liam Conejo Ramos, the 5-year-old detained by ICE agents in Minnesota three weeks earlier. NPR Music confirmed it was not.
President Trump reacted almost instantly, calling the performance “terrible” and “an affront to the greatness of America” on Truth Social.
Redefining American Identity
Bad Bunny’s performance addressed Puerto Rico’s perpetual in-betweenness—too Latin for some in the United States, too closely associated with America to be fully accepted by some in Latin America.
He turned not fitting in into a superpower, leveraging Puerto Rico’s caught-between-two-worlds cultural identity to create an inclusive, All-American image.
His closing statement crystallized everything. Leading a rainbow procession of every flag in the Americas, he named every country in North and South America, including non-Spanish dominant or traditionally Latino places.
The message landed unmistakably clear: America extends far beyond borders some try to draw. Latino identity isn’t negotiable, and authenticity doesn’t compromise success—it amplifies it.
In 13 minutes packed with heart-thumping reggaeton, political fire, and cultural celebration, Bad Bunny didn’t just perform at the Super Bowl. He expanded what Super Bowl halftime could represent, who it could speak to, and what American identity looks like in 2025.