Ugly Rabbit talks about the Super Bowl Halftime Show at an event in San Francisco
It’s been a heady week for Bad Bunny, who scored a historic win at the Grammy Awards in Los Angeles over the weekend amid the Super Bowl media frenzy surrounding his performance of the Halftime Show at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara on Sunday.
So, in the midst of all the goings-on, Bad Bunny could be forgiven for initially seeming close to his emotions during a massive press conference attended by hundreds of members of the international media on Thursday at the Moscone Center in San Francisco.
“To be honest … I don’t know how I feel,” said the ugly rabbit at the start of this Super Bowl Halftime interview and pregame press conference, hosted and moderated by Apple Music. “It’s a lot, you know, I’m still in the middle of my tour. I was just awarded at the Grammys last week.”
Given a moment to reflect on things, however, the 31-year-old “king of Latin Trap” – whose real name is Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio – was able to come up with an answer.
“It’s a great feeling to be thankful,” said the Ugly Rabbit. “I feel good, but I’m processing it and taking it one day at a time and I’m fine.
“I’m happy with this job. But at the same time, I feel happier (for) all the people than me – for my family, for my friends, the people I know who have always believed in me. And they’re happy.”
He also talked about how he mentally prepares for the Halftime show, saying that his biggest trick is “trying not to think too much about it.” However, for better or worse, that strategy doesn’t work the way he hoped.
“Last night, I couldn’t sleep because I was thinking about it,” he said during an interview with Apple Music’s Zane Lowe and Ebro Darden. “I want to think it’s just 13 minutes of doing something I love. I’m trying to enjoy it, and I know I’m going to have fun. Ultimately, that’s what I’m trying to focus on – enjoy the moment.”
He also talked about his sixth solo studio blockbuster effort — 2025’s “Debí Tirar Más Fotos” — which, on Sunday, became the first Spanish-language tour to win Album of the Year at the Grammy Awards.
“That record taught me a lot,” said Bad Bunny. “It’s one of the most special projects – if not, I think, the most special projects I’ve ever done. I was trying to connect with myself and my roots – who I am.”
He also recalled his first appearance at the Super Bowl Halftime Show, which happened back in 2020 when he was one of the guests during the game Jennifer Lopez and Shakira were in the lead at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami. Did that taste of the bright lights — and the biggest stage in all of music — inspire him to try and one day headline his own Halftime Show?
“Actually, no, it’s not that I said, ‘Oh, I want to come back here by myself.’ I have never (looked) at this,” said Bad Bunny. “My biggest joy is just creating. Have fun doing it and connect with people. When I release a song about how I feel, or when I release a song about what I did last night, and people connect with me. That’s the best feeling.”
Bad Bunny was also asked about his relationship with sports. And he was very honest and forthcoming in his answer.
“Well, I’m not good at sports,” Bunny Bad ways. “I’m from Puerto Rico. There’s baseball, boxing, basketball – a lot of sports. Actually, we have a football player playing in the Super Bowl from Puerto Rico. So, yeah, I grew up watching sports and playing a lot of bad sports. But I love the game.”
He was reluctant, however, to give the media too many hints about what they should expect specifically — in terms of guest stars or other special moments — from the Halftime Show.
“You know that’s something I can’t tell you,” said the Bad Rabbit. “I don’t know why you asked that.”
Instead, he spoke at length about his Halftime Show, saying he just wants “people to have fun.”
“There’s going to be a big party,” said Bad Bunny. “I really don’t want to give away spoilers.
“People should worry (about dancing). I know I told them they have four months to learn Spanish, (but) they don’t even need to learn Spanish. It’s better if they learn to dance.”
The press conference also featured interviews with pre-game performers – Charlie Puth (singing the national anthem), Brandi Carlile (“America the Beautiful”), Coco Jones (“Lift Every Voice and Sing”), Fred Michael Beam (ASL Performance of the National Anthem & “Lift Every Voice and Sing”), Julian Ortiz (ASL Performance of “Celimar the Beautiful Musica”) Halftime Show)
