Bad Bunny celebrates America with Super Bowl LX halftime performance

By Elizabeth Elizalde

Coming off his historic Grammy win, rapper Bad Bunny graced millions with the second most-watched Super Bowl halftime show of all time on Sunday, Feb. 8.

At Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., Super Bowl LX's halftime show was packed with cultural symbolism of the Latino community and historical and political references that sparked debate, but what was clear was a message of unity. 

Wearing a custom cream Zara outfit with his last name "Ocasio" on his back, the Puerto Rican superstar performed many of his greatest hits in Spanish, a first in Super Bowl history.  

Here are the best moments from this year’s halftime show: 

1) Homage to Puerto Rico: 

Bad Bunny opened his Super Bowl performance with “Tití Me Preguntó,” walking through a makeshift field as workers donned traditional pava hats and chipped away at sugarcanes with machetes. It was a nod to the farmers and agricultural workers on the island. 

2) Celebrities in “La Casita”:

Many Latino celebrities made cameos in Bad Bunny’s casita, including Pedro Pascal, Cardi B, Karol G, Young Miko and Jessica Alba, dancing to “Yo Perro Sola,” “Party” and “ VOY A LLeVARTE PA PR.”

3) Honoring Puerto Rican reggaetón icons: 

Bad Bunny paid tribute to Puerto Rican reggaeton legends Tego Calderon, Daddy Yankee, Don Omar, and Héctor el Father with snippets of their iconic hits, leading into his own banger “EoO.” “You’re listening to music from Puerto Rico,” he says in Spanish. 

4) A real wedding happened: 

A couple got married on stage, symbolizing a celebration of love—a nod to Bad Bunny’s Grammy speech mentioning, “The only thing more powerful than hate is love.” A billboard with the same message was also displayed throughout the show. 

5) Lady Gaga dancing salsa: 

As the married couple shared their first kiss, Lady Gaga appeared in a custom baby blue Luar dress with Puerto Rico’s national flower, the maga. She performed the salsa version of “Die With a Smile” before dancing to “BAILE INoLVIDABLE” with Bad Bunny. Now we know what they were talking about at the Grammys. 

6) A Toñita cameo: 

If you were born and raised in New York City – specifically in the south side of Williamsburg, Brooklyn, known as Los Sures—then you know who Toñita is. María Antonia Cay a.k.a  Toñita, owner of the legendary Caribbean Social Club, made an appearance during Bad Bunny’s performance of "NUEVAYoL." He's a known supporter of her business, promoting his albums “DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS” and “Un Verano Sin Ti” at her social club.

7) NYC was in the house: 

Speaking of New York City, Bad Bunny honored Nuyorican culture throughout his 13-minute performance, with makeshift bodegas, barbershops, nail salons, a piragua cart, and people playing dominoes. All the things that make NYC a cultural melting pot. 

8) “Always believe in yourself”: 

In one of the most emotional moments of Bad Bunny’s performance, a little boy and his family can be seen watching his Grammy acceptance speech on television. Bad Bunny then shows up, giving the little boy his Grammy and telling him, “Always believe in yourself.” Many on social media thought the little boy was Liam Conejo Ramos, a 5-year-old from Minnesota who was shipped with his father to an Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention center in Texas. They have since been released, and the boy in question is actor Lincoln Fox. Others believe the little boy is a representation of Bad Bunny himself as a child or future generations. 

9) A Ricky Martin surprise: 

The “Livin’ la Vida Loca” singer made a surprise appearance, performing Bad Bunny's song “Lo Que Le Pasó a Hawaii” with a replica of the “DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS” album cover of two white plastic chairs and a banana tree. 

10) Procession of flags:

At the end of Bad Bunny’s performance, a procession of flags from all the Americas and the Caribbean was proudly displayed as he said, “God Bless America.” Fans interpreted that the United States is one of many countries in America.