Bad Bunny Turns Super Bowl LX into Global Latin Festival
“The Benito Bowl”: Bad Bunny Turns Super Bowl LX into Global Latin Festival
SANTA CLARA, CA — For 13 electric minutes on Sunday night, the gridiron at Levi’s Stadium wasn't just a football field—it was a casita, a town square, and a defiant celebration of Latin identity. Bad Bunny delivered a historic Super Bowl LX Halftime Show, marking the first time a solo Spanish-speaking artist has headlined the world's most-watched stage.
Dressed in a custom all-white "Ocasio 64" jersey—a nod to his real name and year of birth of his father, the Puerto Rican superstar transformed the stadium into a lush Caribbean landscape, complete with palm trees, real sugar cane fields, and nearly 10,000 pyrotechnics.
A Star-Studded "Paranda"
The show was a masterclass in surprise and scale. While many expected a solo performance, Benito brought a galaxy of stars into his world.
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Lady Gaga: In a stunning crossover moment, Gaga joined the stage to perform a Latin-infused salsa rendition of her hit “Die With a Smile.”
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Ricky Martin: The pop icon made a dramatic appearance to perform “LO QUE LE PASÓ A HAWAii,” a track that pointedly addresses gentrification.
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Celebrity Cameos: The "town square" set was populated by an A-list ensemble, including Pedro Pascal, Cardi B, Karol G, and Jessica Alba, who were seen playing dominoes and dancing outside "Sakamoto’s Grocery", a cheeky nod to his recent cinematic interest.
The "Super Bowl Wedding"
The most talked-about moment of the night wasn't a musical one. Amidst the chaos of the performance, a real couple—fans who had reportedly invited Bad Bunny to their wedding via social media, officially tied the knot on stage. A representative for the singer confirmed after the show that the ceremony was legally binding, making it the first wedding in Super Bowl history.
A Message of "Love Over Hate"
Despite the high-energy "perreo" and the festive atmosphere, the performance carried a heavy political undercurrent. The show featured subtle but sharp critiques of current immigration policies, including a moment where Bad Bunny handed his Grammy to a young boy in a Blue Bunny hat, a symbol of the children affected by recent ICE raids.
As the performance reached its climax, flags from across the Americas and the Caribbean filled the field. The show concluded with a massive banner on the stadium’s screens that read:
“The only thing more powerful than hate is love.”
The Viral Verdict
The reaction was immediate and polarized. While California Governor Gavin Newsom declared 8th February "Bad Bunny Day" and social media hailed it as a "cultural milestone," the performance drew sharp criticism from conservative figures, including President Trump, who labeled the show "terrible" and an "affront to American standards" on Truth Social.
Regardless of the political fallout, the "Benito Bowl" succeeded in its primary goal: making the world dance. From the opening notes of “Tití Me Preguntó” to the final bars of “DtMF,” Bad Bunny proved that language is no barrier when the "vibes" are this strong.
