A new chapter in music and sports history was made when "Bad Bunny," the famous young Puerto Rican artist, turned the Super Bowl stadium into a Puerto Rican street party, promoting equality. However, he was criticized by Donald Trump, who posted that it was unintelligible and a disgrace to America.
Bad Bunny, whose real name is Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, 31, made history by performing the entire Super Bowl halftime show in Spanish for the first time. He focused on showcasing his homeland's culture by featuring backgrounds that recreated sugarcane fields, ice-shaved "piragua" carts, and a wooden house called "La Casita."
The show also featured a star-studded lineup including Pedro Pascal, Jessica Alba, Cardi B, with a surprise guest appearance by Lady Gaga performing a Latin-flavored version of "Die with a Smile," and legendary artist Ricky Martin.
Although many anticipated that he would sharply criticize Trump administration immigration policies as he did at the Grammys with his "ICE out" shout, this time Bad Bunny chose to communicate through symbolism. He performed "El Apagon" to highlight Puerto Rico's electricity shortages and the displacement of its people. The show ended with a giant screen message reading "The only thing more powerful than hate is love" and a football displaying the phrase "Together, we are America."
There was also controversy regarding a boy who appeared in the show, with netizens speculating he was an Ecuadorian child detained by immigration officers. However, the NFL confirmed the boy was "Lincoln Fox," a child actor playing a young Bad Bunny.
After the show, President Donald Trump immediately posted on Truth Social stating, "No one understood a word this guy said," labeling the performance "a disgrace to the greatness of America," despite statistics showing over 41 million Americans communicate in Spanish.
The show faced backlash from conservatives since the artist's name was announced, due to objections over the use of Spanish on a U.S. national stage.
Bad Bunny's journey is highly inspirational, rising from a former supermarket packer in Vega Baja to a global streaming sensation for four consecutive years, and recently becoming the first Spanish-language album winner of the Grammy Album of the Year award.
For Puerto Ricans, Bad Bunny is a source of pride. Olvin Reyes, a Puerto Rican, said, "Having someone from here stand on one of the most important stages in the U.S. is a pride for all of us."
. . .AFP