Bad Bunny, a Puerto Rican music star, led a celebratory performance of Latino heritage at the Super Bowl halftime show, the first time in the 60-year history of the NFL’s championship game that the flagship entertainment has been done largely in Spanish.
His 13-minute performance, which included hits including “Nuevayol” and “Baile Inolvidable,” included guest spots by Lady Gaga — who sang a salsa-style “Die With a Smile,” her hit with Bruno Mars, in English — and Ricky Martin. It also featured a set of a New York-style street scene, complete with a bodega bearing a “We accept EBT” lighted sign, referring to electronic benefits cards.
It has been a whirlwind year for Bad Bunny, with an acclaimed album, “Debí Tirar Más Fotos,” that explores Puerto Rican identity and mixes sounds old and new. Last week, it took album of the year at the Grammy Awards, another milestone for Latin music.
His appearance at the Super Bowl had become a political flash point amid the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown, and the NFL’s announcement of him as its halftime star last fall drew waves of condemnation on the right, including from President Donald Trump.
After Bad Bunny said “ICE out” at the Grammy Awards last week, referring to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, there had been speculation that he could make another political statement. There was nothing that explicit or provocative, but after saying “God bless America,” Bad Bunny read a list of countries throughout North and South America — Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela, United States — suggesting that Bad Bunny was offering a meaning of “America” that is wider than the U.S.
Here’s what to know:
— Global superstar: Born Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, Bad Bunny has become one of the music world’s biggest stars with booming reggaeton hits that also draw on the nostalgic sounds of salsa and traditional Puerto Rican rhythms. He has been Spotify’s top-streaming artist for four of the past six years.
— A political force: Since early in his career, Bad Bunny has used his platform to draw attention to problems in Puerto Rico including overdevelopment, misconduct by politicians and the government’s poor response to Hurricane Maria. He has also criticized the Trump administration’s immigration policies, saying at the Grammys last week, “ICE out,” referring to Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
—
Trump responds: Trump mocked the halftime show in a social media post, calling it “absolutely terrible, one of the worst, EVER!” He added, “Nobody understands a word this guy is saying.”
— Counterprogramming: Turning Point USA, the conservative organization founded by Charlie Kirk, put on its own streaming event Sunday, the All-American Halftime Show — with “no ‘woke’ garbage” — as counterprogramming. It featured Kid Rock and country singers Brantley Gilbert and Lee Brice.
— ICE presence: Kristi Noem, the homeland security secretary, said last fall that Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents would “be all over” the Super Bowl. Last week, the NFL’s security chief said that although agents from a number of federal agencies would be present, there would be no “immigration enforcement operations” at the game Sunday.
This article originally appeared in The New York Times.
Related Articles
Seahawks dominate Patriots to win Super Bowl
QB Sam Darnold wins Super Bowl championship right where he revived his career with San Francisco
Seattle Seahawks win the Super Bowl
Review: Bad Bunny brought Puerto Rico’s history and culture to a revolutionary Super Bowl show
What happens if Super Bowl LX goes into overtime? Here’s how the NFL’s rules work.
Leave a Reply