Bad Bunny Sends a Message of Unity During Halftime Performance
Puerto Rican superstar Bad Bunny used a 13-minute halftime performance to deliver a show filled with music, cultural symbolism and a message of unity, redefining what it means to be American.
In one of the most talked-about halftime shows in recent years, Bad Bunny introduced a central theme: America extends beyond borders, and everyone from the American continents belongs to it.
Despite controversy surrounding the performance, the artist did not shy away from political symbolism, closing the show on a unifying note.
The set featured several of Bad Bunny’s most popular songs, including “Tití Me Preguntó,” “Safaera” and “DtMF.” After performing his hits, Bad Bunny looked directly into the camera and spoke in English for the only time during the performance, saying, “God bless America.”
More than 20 flags representing nations from North, Central and South America appeared behind him, carried by dancers trailing the artist. The United States and Puerto Rican flags were the most prominent.
In the United States, “America” is often used to describe the country itself, while many neighboring nations use the term to describe the continent. Bad Bunny emphasized this distinction when he held a football reading, “Together we are America,” before ending the performance with “DtMF.”
The message was clear: Bad Bunny declared himself, and people across the American continents, Americans.
Symbolism of the show
Bad Bunny paid extensive homage to his home of Puerto Rico, filling the performance with cultural symbolism and references.
Born in Bayamón, the singer transported viewers to the island as soon as he stepped onstage, performing against a backdrop resembling Puerto Rico’s sugar cane fields. Dancers wearing traditional pava straw hats flanked him during the opening song.
Puerto Rican cuisine was also highlighted. During “Tití Me Preguntó,” Bad Bunny walked past performers gathered around a coco frío cart, a street-vended beverage made from fresh coconut water. He later stopped at a recreation of a piragua cart, briefly grabbing the shaved ice dessert popular on the island.
The artist also honored reggaeton pioneers. After a mashup of “Yo Perreo Sola” and “Voy a Llevarte Pa’ PR,” he performed a snippet of Daddy Yankee’s “Gasolina.” He additionally paid tribute to Tego Calderón and Don Omar with samples of “Pa’ Que Retozen” and “Dale Don Dale.”
Following his performance of “Nuevayol,” Bad Bunny acknowledged his recent Grammy milestone. At the 68th annual Grammy Awards on Feb. 1, he became the first artist to win album of the year with a Spanish-language album. During the show, he held up a Grammy statuette and handed it to a young boy, symbolizing his younger self.
Bad Bunny has long used his platform to advocate for Puerto Rico and its people. While opinions on the halftime show may vary, the performance left a lasting message: unity over division.
