Enjoy the fun!
On Saturday, Gov. Gavin Newsom has declared Super Bowl Sunday as Ugly Rabbit Day in California. Today, Bad Bunny himself took part in the Super Bowl LX halftime show and made everyone’s day, Spanish speakers and more.
Despite all the MAGA foot stomping and NFL audience wishes Bunny had to endure on the way to Sunday’s big show, the newly nominated Album of the Year winner faced a very tall field to match or surpass last year’s tour de force from Kendrick Lamar. However, rising to the challenge, and the moment, is often one of the biggest variables in the success of Bunny aka Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio.
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Concluding with Bunny declaring “God bless America” in English and throwing a football that recorded “Together, We Are America”, tonight’s performance was a complex and compelling success.
(L-R) Pedro Pascal, Karol G and Cardi B in the audience on stage during the Apple Music Super Bowl LX Halftime Show at Levi’s Stadium Feb. 8, 2026 in Santa Clara, Calif. (Image: Getty)
Chris Graythen/Getty Images
Joined by Lady Gaga (singing the salsa song “Die with A Smile”) and Ricky Martin (covering the singer’s “LO QUE LE PASÓ A HAWAii”) in separate spots, Bunny exclaimed to the home crowd and Levi’s Stadium “we dance without fear, we speak without fear” as the Puerto Rican flag waved behind him.
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Under the last of the California afternoon sun, a lot of dancers, fruit sellers, piragua sellers, boxers, repairmen of electric lines (highlighting the ongoing blackout in the island area), that sign of Concho toad, part of the chain, a real life wedding, flags of the nations of the hemisphere and migrant workers who wore the hat of his first day around the world. “The only thing stronger than hate is love.” His signature Casita (he happily crashed through the roof in one recording) featured an awards show featuring VIP celebrities, including Pedro Pascal, Jessica Alba and collaborators Young Miko, Karol G and Cardi B.
If the cheering crowd of over 60,000 at the home of the San Francisco 49ers was any indication, there was a lot of love in the house — and not just the aforementioned casita, if you know what I mean? When Bunny gave his best album Grammy to a little boy who looked like Liam Conejo Ramos – a five-year-old recently released after being kidnapped and detained by ICE – the whole place picked up what he was putting down and went crazy.
That’s why, in an America torn apart by ideology, race and wealth, the proud puertorriqueño Grammy winner nailed it today by turning a cavernous Santa Clara stadium into a sweaty San Juan nightclub for 13 hip-shaking minutes.
Indeed, with NBC taking a few hours off from its excellent coverage of the Winter Olympics, the vibe and groove set by Bad Bunny was a welcome relief after the low-scoring and low-energy first half of the recent Super Bowl clash between the Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots.
In many ways, the Super Bowl halftime show has a greater lifespan than the Super Bowl itself.
First, on average, most NFL games only see 11 minutes of actual play in the entire game, while the halftime show is usually 13 minutes long. Few remember that the Indianapolis Colts defeated the Chicago Bears in Super Bowl XL, but almost everyone knows that Prince delivered the Gold standard of halftime shows that night in 2007. However, while the cultural and political significance of Bad Bunny’s performance is undeniable, until this year’s midterm show, the power and uniqueness of his music seems to be on the wane.
However, with the opening notes of the reggaeton song and the rhythm of “Tití Me Preguntó” today, the rabbit changed and increased the energy, starting what he promised to be a true explosion of the Super Bowl. His triumphant and ebullient block party-esque rave-up of Latinidad included a mix of old and new songs, from different albums. Un Verano Sin Ti and making history Debí Tirar Más Pictures.
Dressed in a formal white suit with his last name and the number 64 on his back, Bunny shined through his deep bench of bangers like “Yo Perreo Sola,” “Party,” “VOY A LLeVARTE PA PR,” “EoO,” “Monaco,” “BAILE INOLVIDABLE,” “NUEVAINGYOL” and CAF’s house remix, “El Apagón” (and a few different moving notes by Daddy Yankee’s “Gasolina”). Ever the showman, the King of Latin Trap took the stage in the hands of his energetic dancers, before the venue moved from the Jíbaro arenas to Nuevayol’s local bodega and barbershop.
A couple gets married during Bad Bunny’s performance on stage (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
His performance took place in front of an audience including Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos, Apple CEO Tim Cook, Adam Sandler, Range Media CEO Peter Micelli, tennis legend Roger Federer, Mark Wahlberg, Gov Newsom, Jon Bon Jovi (hosting the Patriots), Chris Pratt (hosting Biviseber), Justin Haibeber, Justin Haibeber NFL icons, known Bunny fan Jon Hamm, Jamie Foxx, Kendall Jenner, Zane Lowe of Apple Music, Rob Lowe, J Balvin and no Donald Trump.
Jon Hamm on the sidelines of Super Bowl LX before Bad Bunny performed at the Apple Music Halftime Show (Image: Getty)
Although there were protests outside and a brief message broadcast on the jumbotron, there was no clear “ICE out” for Bunny like at last week’s Grammys. It might disappoint some supporters, but he didn’t have to go there and let go of MAGA that was already bubbling all night. Instead, as part of the Kid Rock-led “All-American” concert that played far from the far-right media, the rap star put on a celebration of the excellence and love of Latino USA. A celebration called the “Benito Bowl” that led to the clever lighting of some of the best 21 things.St America’s century – a dispassionate look at some of the worst.
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Putting all the good and bad aspects of politics aside with his straightforward acceptance of America, Bunny then gave viewers a world lesson by listing the countries that make up the Americas. Chile, Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico, Cuba, Republica Dominicana, Jamaica, Haiti, Antillas, United States, and Canada, all names checked. Finally calling out Puerto Rico in the hemisphere League of Nations, Bunny raised “Together, we are America” and began his song “DtMF” – a crowd pleaser who asked to be sung from the expensive seats to the cheap seats.
Surrounded by palm trees, bamboo and foliage on the field where a 9-0 Seahawks game had been played minutes earlier, the global artist’s decision to instill resilience, culture and happiness was a big and painful middle finger to the brutal kidnapping, deportation and killing by immigration agents.
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For all the whining, huffing and puffing in MAGA circles about Bunny being chosen by the NFL and Jay-Z to be the first Spanish-speaking halftime soloist, Happy Gilmore 2 The actress on stage tonight was a repeat. Six years ago, Bad Bunny made a guest appearance at Super Bowl LIV with Jennifer Lopez and Shakira (who wished him luck tonight on social media) with a verse of “I Like It” and “Chantaje.”
Today – the whole world is bringing American music back to us in its colors and themes the way the Rolling Stones and Led Zeppelin used Stateside Blues back in the 1960s from the UK to the USA – he has let go of his rise to the marquee. Watching tonight’s halftime show, which is often praised for its star-studded portrayal, it should come as no surprise that Bunny has become one of the most successful and streamed artists in the world over the past five years.
An evil rabbit enters the stage during his performance.
Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images
Acclaimed for his 30+ No Me Quiero Ir de Aqui (I Don’t Want to Go Here) set during his Puerto Rico residency last year, Bunny leaned a little more on the tried and true, and, like Lamar last year, stepped in now. In that way, both popular and subversive of Louis Armstrong, Lin Manuel Miranda, Edith Piaf, Fela Kuti and the “Not Like Us” rapper, Bunny has been playing the long game from the beginning – which is what brought him to the big game today.
Earlier this week at a sit-down with halftime sponsors Apple Music and previously with his teaser trailer, the “Otro Atardecer” producer told fans and haters alike what to expect tonight. “It’s better if they learn to dance,” he said as he cut. After the Spanish language show that went down on Sunday, if friends and foes don’t dance they missed the biggest picture of America 2026.
As the man said, “God bless America.”
