We knew Bad Bunny could throw one hell of a party, but the halftime show at Super Bowl LX was an epic and joyful celebration of culture. If logistics excite you, and surely if you are in Fug Nation they do, Wired ran a great piece all about the unique challenges of the halftime show, beginning with the natural grass field — at higher risk of suffering damage than turf. It’s a great read.
Naturally, Donald Trump complained, “Nobody understands a word this guy is saying,” because God forbid anyone use a non-English language. I honestly don’t even want to give air to the absurd bigoted backlash to Bad Bunny being chosen, because it was so stupid and racist and in defiance of logic and humanity. I’d rather laud Benito for what a spectacular, special experience he and his cohorts created in bringing Puerto Rico to San Francisco. The great irony? The national flower of Puerto Rico is the maga. (Sidebar: I hate to debunk this, but no, the child at the end was not Liam Ramos.)
Bad Bunny emerged in Puerto Rico’s sugar cane fields during his halftime show, surrounded by jíbaros in pavas (rural farmers in traditional straw hats), viejitos playing dominos (an affectionate term for older men) and a piragua stand (shaved ice) — undeniable symbols of Puerto Rico.
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He did speak in English at the end of the set, however, when he said, “God Bless America,” and then named countries in the Americas: “Chile, Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Brazil” and so on, including the United States and Canada — a reminder that while it is common to use “America” as a synonym for the U.S. in the U.S., it is the name used across two continents.
If you are on Bluesky, check out this thread breaking down all the imagery (you might be able to see it if you are not on Bluesky; I have not tried).
Over at Variety, which called the competing Turning Point USA show starring Kid Rock “a MAGA grift, we have:
Meanwhile, while the Turning Point show screamed about patriotism, Bad Bunny’s official show was filled with highlight after highlight of things that are exciting about America: A nation full of people who came here with talent and differences worth embracing. Even if you don’t speak Spanish, the visual storytelling evoked so many people living the American dream, from the workers in the opening segment, to elderly folks, female friendships, dancing, drinks and unabashed jubilation and unity.
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In the end, the final words shown during Bad Bunny’s performance were seen on a massive video screen: “The only thing more powerful than hate is love.” The final words on the Turning Point broadcast? “Get involved,” next to a QR code begging for more money.
