Bad Bunny was joined on stage by pop icon Lady Gaga during the Super Bowl halftime show for a high-energy performance celebrating his Puerto Rican culture and heritage.
The Seattle Seahawks beat the New England Patriots 29-13 at the main event of the American football season, with the 31-year-old, whose real name is Benito Antonio Martinez Ocasio, delivering a powerful performance during the half-time show
Bad Bunny’s performance failed to impress the US President Donald Trump, who described it as “absolutely terrible, one of the worst, EVER!’
Posting on his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump said: “It makes no sense, is an affront to the Greatness of America, and doesn’t represent our standards of Success, Creativity, or Excellence.
“Nobody understands a word this guy is saying, and the dancing is disgusting, especially for young children that are watching from throughout the U.S.A., and all over the World.
“This ‘Show’ is just a ‘slap in the face’ to our Country, which is setting new standards and records every single day — including the Best Stock Market and 401(k)s in History!
“There is nothing inspirational about this mess of a Halftime Show and watch, it will get great reviews from the Fake News Media, because they haven’t got a clue of what is going on in the REAL WORLD.”
Bad Bunny is a known critic of Trump’s immigration policies.
The Puerto Rican performance sparked an “alternative” half-time show featuring Kid Rock and a roster of country musicians, organised by the conservative non-profit Turning Point USA.
The Seattle Seahawks celebrate their win with the Lombardi Trophy Credit: AP
Bad Bunny’s halftime show opened on Puerto Rican scenes of dominoes and sugar cane fields, set to the musician’s 2022 single Titi Me Pregunto before moving into Perreo Sola, sang atop the rooftop of a casita – or little house.
The performance also saw him crash through the casita roof to the familiar notes of Daddy Yankee’s Gasolina, a tribute to past creatives who paved the way for today’s Latin music scene.
Later on, he was joined by Lady Gaga, who performed a salsa version of her Bruno Mars collaboration Die with a Smile.
Other guest appearances included actress Jessica Alba, rapper Cardi B, and Mandalorian star Pedro Pascal.
Elsewhere in the show, the 31-year-old rapper scaled power lines and waved the Puerto Rican flag during his performance of Apagon, seemingly referencing the ongoing power outages and difficult recovery his homeland endured during the aftermath of Hurricane Maria.
Back-up dancers surrounded him, waving flags from Latin American countries, as well as those of the United States and Canada.
During the show, the stage became an altar for a couple to tie the knot.
A representative confirmed to the Associated Press that the wedding was real and Bad Bunny served as an official witness.
The couple reportedly invited the musician to their wedding, but he instead suggested they form part of his half-time show.
During the half-time show, the stage was transformed into an altar as a couple tied the knot while Bad Bunny performed behind them. Credit: AP
His performance was almost entirely in Spanish until the end, when he said, “God Bless America,” naming other countries before paying tribute to “my motherland, mi patria, Puerto Rico”.
He held a football inscribed with “Together We Are America”.
Fresh off his major Grammys win, Bad Bunny also picked up the award for best global music performance for his hit track EoO and won the best musica urbana album award for the fourth year in a row.
A known critic of Mr Trump’s immigration policies, the singer used his Grammy acceptance speech last week to call for Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers to leave cities alone and opt for love.
He said: “We’re not savages, we’re not animals, we’re not aliens, we are humans and we are Americans.
“I would say to the people, I know it’s tough to know not to hate on these days, and I was thinking, sometimes… the hate get more powerful with more hate. The only thing that is more powerful than hate is love.”
Want a quick and expert briefing on the biggest news stories? Listen to our latest podcasts to find out What You Need To Know…
