As Bad Bunny gets ready to perform at the Super Bowl halftime show, fans and critics are having opposing views over the pick. His performance will highlight his Latino pride and Puerto Rican roots, delivering one of the most anticipated performances of the year.
By Carla Morales
TAMPA, Fla. — Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, better known as Bad Bunny from Vega Baja, Puerto Rico, will be the 60th Super Bowl halftime performer. From bagging groceries in 2016 to headlining the Super Bowl, one of Puerto Rico’s most popular artists has done it. Fresh out of his 30-day No Me Quiero Ir de Aquí, this star is more than ready to take the stage on Feb. 8.
On Sunday, Sept. 28, the star posted to his Instagram a short clip of him wearing a pava hat, chanclas, and a Hector Lavoe-inspired suit, while sitting atop a football goalpost at sunset on a beach in Puerto Rico with his song “Callaita” (one of his most-streamed songs) playing in the background. This Instagram post has now gained over 6.1 million likes, 114,000 comments, 612,000 reposts, and 1.7 million shares.
After this big reveal, Bad Bunny participated in an interview with Apple Music’s Zane Lowe and Ebro Darden, discussing his excitement over his performance and his goals for the show.
“I’m going to enjoy. I’m going to embrace the moment,” said Bad Bunny in the interview. “I’m going to show what we have, our music, our culture. I’m just going to the stage to enjoy and have fun.”
The artist then told Zane and Ebro the moments after he was told he would be the 2026 Super Bowl Halftime performer.
According to Deadline, Bad Bunny said, “It’s crazy because I was in the middle of a workout. So I remember that after the call, I just did like a hundred pull-ups. I didn’t need more pre-workout shit or whatever. It was very special. It was so special.”
Ever since this huge announcement, every social media platform has been blowing up, causing fans to predict what songs he will sing during this 12–15 minute set.
This performance will not just be an ordinary performance, as the artist wants to truly connect with his culture and touch people’s hearts.
According to Deadline, Bad Bunny said, “I’m really excited for my friends, my family. Puerto Rico, all the Latino people around the world. I’m excited about my culture. I’m excited about everything, not just for me. You know what I’m saying.”
Although this is a huge achievement for an artist from such a small island, not everyone is pleased with the decision to have a Latino performing for one of the largest sporting events in the world.
Many upset fans have been taking to TikTok to express their frustration. One example is the news TikTok account, @nowthisimpact, which reposted a clip from Greg Kelly’s podcast “Greg Kelly Reports.”
“I remember in the 1990s they once had a great big 50th anniversary of Snoopy and Charlie Brown. Now we have the bunny who hates America, hates President Trump, hates ICE, hates the English language. He’s just a terrible person,” said Greg Kelly.
Along with Greg Kelly, Donald Trump’s administration did not seem too eager about this decision either, as Donald Trump’s administration has warned that United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents will be present at the game.
Although not everyone agrees with the decision, it is impossible to deny that Bad Bunny is one of the biggest artists in the nation.
According to NBC News, Bad Bunny said, “This is for my people, my culture, and our history. Ve y dile a tu abuela, que seremos el HALFTIME SHOW DEL SUPER BOWL.”
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Photo courtesy of Dave Adamson via Unsplash.