The Super Bowl 60 matchup between the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks is the biggest day on the NFL calendar. Even so, halftime performer Bad Bunny has garnered headlines ever since he was announced as the game’s halftime performer.
His performance, complete with appearances by Lady Gaga and Ricky Martin and stunning visual effects, has set the internet ablaze.
Bad Bunny Emphasizes Peace, Unity in Super Bowl Halftime Show
The production of this year’s halftime show was remarkable, and Bad Bunny, who performed entirely in Spanish, delivered a show that Latin America can certainly be proud of.
Even non-Spanish speakers who tuned in can take something away from it, if nothing other than the catchy, mesmerizing rhythm of his music.
During his performance, a message appeared on the Jumbotron, saying, “The only thing more powerful than hate is love.”
Lo único más poderoso que el odio, es el amor.
The Only Thing More Powerful Than Hate is Love. @sanbenito #AppleMusicHalftime pic.twitter.com/0VDQlSjet9
— NFL (@NFL) February 9, 2026
The NFL doubled down on this message, posting on X with that exact wording.
At the end of his performance, Bad Bunny also held up a football with the words “Together, we are America” written on its underside.
Bad Bunny has been the subject of criticism in recent weeks from viewers who would’ve preferred that the league book an artist for the halftime show who performed exclusively in English.
However, on the heels of winning three Grammy Awards this past week, having Bad Bunny lead the halftime show was a major win for the NFL, as they intend to continue expanding their product globally.
Remarkably, even Bad Bunny’s messaging of hope and unification was enough to anger certain groups. Turning Point USA announced a lineup for their own “All-American” halftime show that would air during Bad Bunny’s performance.
The conservative organization announced a lineup featuring Kid Rock, Brantley Gilbert, Lee Brice, and Gabby Barrett; all performances were streamed on YouTube.
Bad Bunny’s Roots Helped Provide Cultural Impact in America
Bad Bunny is Puerto Rican. He was born in Bayamón, Puerto Rico, and grew up in Vega Baja. Vega Baja is a coastal municipality west of San Juan.
A municipality is a city or town that has corporate status and local government. Puerto Rico is a U.S. territory. People born there are American citizens.
He began making music while attending the University of Puerto Rico at Arecibo. Like many young artists of the 2010s, he uploaded early recordings to SoundCloud and gained popularity through streaming.
His early tracks blended reggaeton and Latin trap. Those unique sounds helped introduce his music beyond Puerto Rico. Wider attention followed in 2016 with the songs “Diles” and “Soy Peor.”
His 2025 album “Debí Tirar Más Fotos” opened at No. 1 on the Billboard 200. Last Sunday, he won Album of the Year at the 2026 Grammy Awards for “Debí Tirar Más Fotos,” the first Spanish‑language album to receive that honor.
We all loved his performance. . He’s a great guy. MAGA people need to get with the times.
It stunk. All in Spanish with no translation? Who knows what he sang about?
I know that feeling. I get it every time but I attend an OPERA EVENT. Even when I hear British and Australian accents, it’s difficult to understand but that’s the joy in understanding that we are not just cookie cutter animals on the planet.
Terrible. Very UNAMERICAN!!!
What’s un-American about a U.S. citizen performing at the halftime show?
Afraid to put your name. Pitiful.
2/3 of america speaks spanish (Mexico and all of South America
Wrong. The two most populous countries in the Americas are the US and Brazil, neither of whom are predominantly Spanish speaking (Portugese is the official language of Brazil)
Very well put.
Tired of the NFL’s horrible picks for “entertainment “.
That the entire performance was in Spanish was not inclusive. The dominant language in this country is English – if you don’t speak Spanish you were essentially excluded from a full experience of the show. Not appropriate in the current political climate.
I’d argue that, considering today’s political landscape and the level of divisiveness we see on a daily basis across the country, it couldn’t have been more fitting for the current climate. Just because you couldn’t understand his language doesn’t detract from your ability to understand the words of hopefulness and love displayed on the jumbotron, or the message of unification on his football. You, among many others, should take heed to those messages. Minorities—and as of late, Latin Americans, specifically—are constantly being targeted and told to leave the country if they’re not forcefully removed against their will. Yesterday’s performance was a display of culture, pride and resistance—some of the loudest, most hateful people in this country are too enveloped in their own selfish beliefs to grasp that, nor do they care to. He said, “God bless America” before shouting out 23 North, Central and South American countries at a time when his heritage is under attack; I don’t think it gets more patriotic than that.
As someone who doesn’t even listen to Bad Bunny, I’d also argue that his music is more so for dancing than anything else. I know that’s not the point and there’s nothing I can say that will sway you from what you believe is “appropriate,” but he’s the biggest artist in the world right now. The NFL has made it abundantly clear that they’re trying to broaden their product on a global scale, and that includes tapping into Latin American communities. Not every performance is going to cater to 100% of the population and please every single individual, but Bad Bunny’s halftime show was about so much more than whether or not you can understand what he’s saying. Maybe this is a sign for you to learn some Spanish and become bilingual?