Puerto Rican superstar Bad Bunny is set to headline the Super Bowl halftime show on Sunday, performing primarily in Spanish at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara. The artist, known for blending reggaeton, Latin trap and Caribbean rhythms, has promised a 'huge party' for the 13-minute set. His appearance comes as Donald Trump's administration intensifies immigration enforcement, with federal agents conducting raids in cities across the US.
Bad Bunny's presence on the grandest stage in US sports offers a striking contrast to the political climate, according to Vanessa Díaz, co-author of a book on the artist. 'He carries the weight of the history of Puerto Rico,' she said, noting that his music combines resistance and joy. Last weekend, Bad Bunny won three Grammys, including album of the year for 'DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS', the first Spanish-language album to win the award. During his acceptance speech, he said 'ICE out' and declared, 'We are humans and we are Americans.'
Conservatives have criticised the NFL's choice, with right-wing commentator Tomi Lahren claiming Bad Bunny is 'not an American artist' despite Puerto Ricans being US citizens. Others mocked him as 'Bad Bunny Rabbit' and demanded an English-only performance. The artist has openly criticised Trump's immigration policies, and his Spanish-language performance is seen as a political act amid a crackdown that has included the detention of a five-year-old boy in Minneapolis and the killings of two US citizens by federal agents.
Bad Bunny's halftime show is expected to draw tens of millions of viewers. 'This is a time when we really need a loud and proud voice in the face of the terrorizing of our Latino and migrant communities,' Díaz said. 'And we need that voice to be in Spanish.'
