“My name is Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, and if I’m here today, it’s because I never—never—stopped believing in myself, and you should believe in yourself too. You’re worth more than you think.”
Bad Bunny has continuously made history.
Not only did his album DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS become the first exclusively Spanish record to take home Album of the Year at the Grammy Awards, but he headlined the halftime show at Super Bowl LX, or as many called it, “Benito Bowl.” Sitting at 135.4 million views, it is also now the most-watched halftime show of all time.
At the press event hosted by Apple Music, Bad Bunny said, “I wasn’t looking for album of the year. I wasn’t looking to perform at the Super Bowl halftime show. I was trying to connect with my roots—connect with myself.” He promised a “huge party,” adding, “I want to bring more to the stage, of course, a lot of my culture. I don’t want to give any spoilers. It’s going to be fun.”
And he left no crumbs.
To me, it wasn’t just any halftime show. In the current cultural and political climate, this performance carried weight.
My thoughts going in: Why are we having a football game in the middle of a Bad Bunny concert? My family came fully prepared with decorations, cake and posters—the whole setup. When the Bad Bunny segment began, all my tías, my mom and I secured our seats. I’m a huge Bad Bunny listener, and I knew he was going to deliver something unforgettable.
As a Hispanic person with Mexican and Guatemalan roots, witnessing how unapologetically Bad Bunny uses his platform is awe-inspiring. What he does for his culture, from donating to Puerto Rico and establishing his residency there, to showcasing his homeland, to amplifying the Sapo Concho across his platforms–it all brings so much pride in its detail. My appreciation for his creativity and the way he elevates Hispanic culture in the mainstream brings me so much joy.
Bad Bunny opened strong by bringing Puerto Rico directly to the audience. showcasing the hard labor of field workers. The moment I heard the opening note of “Títí Me Preguntó,” I jumped from my seat.
His confidence radiated, as did the pride of everyone he involved. As he moved through the sprawling fields, we saw a number of Puerto Rico staples: the coconut stand, a couple of boxers and a piragua stand. The culture and details of Puerto Rico saturated every frame, carefully and intentionally placed.
He also performed songs from his recent album, with “EoO” and “NUEVAYoL” bringing us the Puerto Rican diaspora in New York City. He later performed “El Apagón” while raising the original sky-blue Puerto Rican flag that existed before it was changed to the darker blue; a pointed political statement.
Celebrity cameos featured prominently in his iconic “La Casita” stage–big Latino stars like Cardi B, KAROL G, Pedro Pascal and Jessica Alba. These appearances elicited screams of excitement from me and my family.
Bad Bunny performed with a live orchestra of violins playing “Monaco” and declared, “Mi nombre es Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio..y si hoy estoy aquí es porque nunca dejé de creer en mí. Tu tambien deberias creer en ti. Vales más de lo que piensas.”
Right off the bat, he stated his full name with power and encouraged people to believe in themselves. I got chills at that moment, seeing a Latino artist display such a powerful message about himself and all his achievements–every first-generation Latino’s dream.
The performance then shifted to a real wedding ceremony. Lady Gaga appeared as a guest, performing in a stunning light blue dress adorned with the flor de maga, a Puerto Rican hibiscus and the country’s national flower. Her outfit’s colors echoed those of the Puerto Rican flag. She performed “Die With a Smile” in salsa form, demonstrating a cultural fusion of genres. This felt like a message: Everyone can be connected through music, no matter the language or style.
The wedding scene showed Hispanic party culture, including little things like a child sleeping in a chair. This moment resonated deeply with anyone who’s been that kid at the family party. These small details made me feel seen in the most wholesome way.
Later in the performance, we got another guest, Ricky Martin, performing “LO QUE LE PASÓ A HAWAii,” a politically charged selection. It addressed colonialism and how Hawaiʻi was taken, with Bad Bunny drawing parallels to the threats facing Puerto Rico.
The song says they want to take the river, the beach and the village. The importance of this song goes beyond just Puerto Rico; it’s about advocating for where you’re from and not forgetting the culture you grew up in.
As Bad Bunny closed the show, he said, “God bless America,” and named numerous countries across the Americas in Spanish, including Chile, Paraguay, Perú, Argentina, Brasil, Guatemala, México, Colombia, República Dominicana and more.
He went on with “United States” and “Canadá,” and finally ended with, “My motherland, mi patria, Puerto Rico.”
During this powerful shoutout, the jumbotron displayed the following: “The only thing more powerful than hate is love.”
He then spiked a football on which was written “Together We Are America,” and ended with a heartwarming homey feeling by singing “DtFM,” a love letter to Puerto Rico.
For me, this halftime show wasn’t just entertainment, it was a pure representation of pride and a reminder that our culture deserves to be celebrated on the big stage.
Bad Bunny didn’t just perform; he made history and made us all feel seen.
Velocity 
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