Entertainment
Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl halftime show was a joyful ode to Latin culture, featuring guests including Lady Gaga and Ricky Martin.
After weeks of handwringing from conservative politicians, Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl halftime show was almost completely free of controversial moments. Instead, the Puerto Rican artist, born Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, delivered a 13-minute set bursting with joy and emphasized an overwhelming message of love.
Walking onto the field at Levi’s Stadium in a beige jersey with “Ocasio” on the back, Bad Bunny launched into a medley of his hits, including “Tití Me Preguntó,” “Yo Perreo Sola,” “Safaera,” and “Party.”
As he has shown in numerous appearances on “Saturday Night Live” and in “Happy Gilmore 2,” Bad Bunny has a keen sense of physical comedy and screen presence, both of which he put to good effect during the show.
After pratfalling through the roof of the prop house he was standing on, Bad Bunny exited the bungalow, passing a front porch loaded with celebrity pals. Among those pictured: Actor Pedro Pascal, rapper Cardi B, actress Jessica Alba, singer Karol G, and Tom Brady’s new dance partner, Alix Earle.
As is customary for Super Bowl halftime shows, Bad Bunny also brought in a few additional performers. Lady Gaga was the first to arrive, standing on stage as a real wedding took place to the tune of Bad Bunny’s “Monaco.” Gaga also sang a salsa-influenced version of her song with Bruno Mars, “Die With A Smile,” aided by legendary salsa group Los Sobrinos.
“Die With A Smile” was the only song entirely in English during the show, which may have been shocking to some viewers. But, Bad Bunny’s show was also a reminder that America’s pop music has long had a Latin flavor to it.
During an interlude, Bad Bunny danced to Daddy Yankee’s 2004 reggaeton smash “Gasolina.” Later, he did a duet with fellow Puerto Rican Ricky Martin, who had a chart-topping hit in the States way back in 1999 with “La Vida Loca.”
Throughout the show, every performer radiated joy, from the actors working at a prop taco stand to the hundreds of dancers whirling around the elaborate set, designed to mimic Puerto Rican geography and pay homage to Latin-American culture.
The ebullience stood in stark contrast to the negativity that heralded the show, with conservative action group Turning Point USA going so far as to hold their own separate halftime show.
The criticism continued after the show was over, with President Donald Trump calling Bad Bunny’s performance “absolutely terrible,” “disgusting,” and “the worst ever.”
Instead of matching that divisive rhetoric, Bad Bunny’s message was one of unity.
With a message on the Jumbotron at Levi’s Stadium reading “The only thing more powerful than hate is love,” Bad Bunny wrapped up his halftime show by saying “God Bless America” and spiking a football that read “together, we are America.”
Try to find the controversy in that.
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