A lot can happen in just 13 minutes on the Super Bowl field. Bad Bunny’s groundbreaking halftime set showcased songs from his Grammy-winning album ‘Debí Tirar Más Fotos,’ surprise celebrity appearances, and a vibrant celebration of Latin heritage. Here’s our take on the best and worst moments of his performance.
Best Highroad Political Statement: Unity
Since his announcement as the halftime headliner, Bad Bunny faced criticism, with some claiming he wasn’t an ‘American artist’ (despite his U.S. citizenship as a Puerto Rican) and even former President Trump accusing his selection of ‘sowing hatred.’
Bad Bunny’s powerful response was to embrace a pan-Latin identity. In a striking moment, he used a parade of flags and a recitation of North and South American nations to suggest that ‘God bless America’ applies to the entire hemisphere.
As he spiked a football emblazoned with ‘Together, We Are America,’ a massive billboard behind him declared: ‘The only thing more powerful than hate is love.’ — BEN SISARIO
Most Unnecessary Cameo: Lady Gaga
Despite the presence of a phenomenal Latin backing band, Lady Gaga’s overly sentimental duet ‘Die With a Smile’ (with Bruno Mars, who was absent despite previous halftime appearances) felt entirely out of place in Bad Bunny’s set. This mainstream radio hit stands in stark contrast to the core essence of Bad Bunny’s performance: bringing rich, hyperlocal Puerto Rican and Latin culture to a global audience.
At least ‘Die With a Smile’ was fittingly positioned during the wedding segment of the show – its natural home. Yet, in a performance where every second is crucial, it felt like a wasted opportunity, a concession that detracted from the overall impact. Especially when Karol G, Cardi B, and rising Puerto Rican rapper Young Miko, all of whom were right there on the casita porch, could have offered more authentic contributions. — JOE COSCARELLI
Best Use of Very Recent History: The Nod to Bad Bunny’s Latest Grammy
Immediately following an energetic delivery of his New York anthem ‘NuevaYol,’ the broadcast shifted to a poignant scene. A young boy and his parents watched Bad Bunny accept his album of the year Grammy for ‘Debí Tirar Más Fotos’ – a monumental win that had occurred just one week before this equally historic Super Bowl halftime performance.
This wasn’t just an impressively last-minute detail or an incredible display of current success; it was a deeply moving moment amidst the high-energy spectacle. As Bad Bunny seemingly handed his Grammy to the boy, it powerfully reinforced the communal spirit that has always been central to his widespread appeal.
Was the child a symbolic representation of a young Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, or perhaps the future generation of dreamers he is destined to inspire? Likely a bit of both. — LINDSAY ZOLADZ
Loosest Performance Discipline: The Dancing
Anyone who remembers the meticulous precision of Beyoncé’s dance battle with Bruno Mars in 2016 knows that Super Bowl halftime performances typically uphold incredibly high standards. And rightly so.
At Bad Bunny’s show, the dancers moved with infectious joy and intense pride, though it wasn’t a perfectly synchronized routine, conveying more of a vibrant, less-than-military discipline. But honestly? I’d rather join a party in NuevaYol than attend a cadet drill at West Point. — BEN SISARIO
Least Likely Sartorial Excellence: The White Suit
As a kaleidoscope of dancers in colorful street clothes surrounded him, Bad Bunny emerged as a celestial bandleader, orchestrating a steamy, unforgettable late-summer block party. His weapon of choice: a striking white suit from fast-fashion retailer Zara.
While a white suit can make most people look like a fast-food mascot or a member of an antiquated singing group, on Bad Bunny, it exuded an aura of effortless poise, a carefully crafted image designed to defy his critics. — JACOB GALLAGHER
Best Subtle Historical Allusion: The Puerto Rican Flag
The Puerto Rican flag that Bad Bunny proudly carried during his performance was subtly distinct from the current official version. It was, in fact, a flag representing the Puerto Rican independence movement.
Like the official flag, it featured red, white, and blue, with a single star and red and white stripes. However, the blue shade was not the navy blue of the American flag, but a lighter, ‘azul claro’ (light blue) hue.
This particular flag was once outlawed on the island in the late 1940s. Bad Bunny references it in ‘La Mudanza,’ the rumba that concludes his album ‘Debí Tirar Más Fotos,’ where he expresses his wish for ‘the light-blue flag on my coffin.’ — JON PARELES
Best Stunt: The Trust Fall
Bad Bunny has never shied away from putting his body on the line (who else at halftime has convincingly battled a World Wrestling Entertainment star like Damien Priest?), and his set included two impressive stunts.
The first (which appeared partly pre-taped) showed him crashing through the ceiling of a casita. The second featured him making a dramatic exit from a wedding scene, falling backward off a roof into the waiting, outstretched hands of the crowd below. He quickly regained his footing and seamlessly transitioned into a lively block party, even taking a moment to grab a drink from Toñita, the owner of Brooklyn’s Caribbean Social Club – a well-deserved reward. — CARYN GANZ