On February 8, 2026, Bad Bunny delivered a historic performance as the first Latino solo artist to headline a Super Bowl halftime show, performing almost entirely in Spanish at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California. The Apple Music Super Bowl LX Halftime Show featured guest appearances by Lady Gaga and Ricky Martin, along with appearances by celebrities like Pedro Pascal, Cardi B, and Karol G. The setlist included hits such as "Tití Me Preguntó," "Yo Perreo Sola," and songs from his critically acclaimed album Debí Tirar Más Fotos, ending with a banner reading, "The only thing more powerful than hate is love".Political Symbolism and Controversy The performance was notable for its subtle political critiques. Bad Bunny wore a beige sweater emblazoned with the number 64, referencing the initial, widely disputed death toll of Hurricane Maria reported by the Puerto Rican government, and climbed an electricity pylon to symbolize the island’s ruined infrastructure. He also referenced his previous Grammy speech calling for ICE to be removed from America.Donald Trump ranted against the show on Truth Social, calling it an "affront to the Greatness of America" and "one of the worst, EVER!". In response to the selection of Bad Bunny, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem had previously announced that ICE agents would be present at the event.The "Grammy Boy" Mistaken Identity A viral moment occurred when Bad Bunny handed a Grammy trophy to a young boy on stage. Social media users incorrectly theorized the child was Liam Conejo Ramos, a five-year-old Ecuadorian asylum seeker whose recent detention by ICE in Minnesota had sparked national outrage. However, it was confirmed that the boy was Lincoln Fox (Lincoln Fox Ramadan), a five-year-old child actor of Egyptian and Argentine heritage hired to represent a younger version of Bad Bunny. While the moment was symbolic of "passing the dream forward," the real Liam Ramos and his father were facing renewed deportation efforts by the administration following a judge-ordered release.Counterprogramming: The All-American Halftime Show As an alternative to Bad Bunny, the conservative nonprofit Turning Point USA organized the "All-American Halftime Show". Headlined by Kid Rock and featuring country artists like Lee Brice and Brantley Gilbert, the event aimed to celebrate "faith, family, and freedom". Reviews were polarized; critics described it as "half-hearted" and "exceptionally boring," and Kid Rock faced ridicule for allegedly lip-syncing his performance. While it drew 6.1 million concurrent viewers on YouTube, it was widely considered inferior to the official halftime production.Musical Foundation: Debí Tirar Más Fotos The Super Bowl performance capped a period of unprecedented success for Bad Bunny’s sixth studio album, Debí Tirar Más Fotos (released January 5, 2025). The album blended reggaeton with traditional Puerto Rican styles like plena, salsa, and bomba, exploring themes of gentrification and cultural identity. It made history by becoming the first Spanish-language album to win Album of the Year at the Grammy Awards. The record received universal acclaim, with critics praising it as a "Puerto Rican triumph" and a personal "love letter" to his heritage. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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