Puerto Rican pop sensation Bad Bunny is set to take center stage as the headliner for next year's Super Bowl halftime show in California. The singer and rapper, who has claimed the top spot on Spotify's most-streamed artist list for three out of the past five years, will cram his chart-topping hits into a high-energy performance lasting less than 15 minutes on what promises to be the most-watched night on US television in February.
In a statement infused with football spirit, he shared, "What I'm feeling transcends beyond myself. It's a tribute to those who paved the way before me, running countless yards so that I could step in and score a touchdown. This is for my people, my culture, and our shared history." This announcement comes hot on the heels of Bad Bunny's recent revelation in an interview with i-D magazine, where he disclosed his decision to steer clear of the US on his current world tour due to concerns over potential raids by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents targeting fans at his concerts.
"Truly inspiring," is how his upcoming performance is being described. He is now poised to make a special trip to the US for the Super Bowl night in Santa Clara on February 8th. Bad Bunny will follow in the illustrious footsteps of recent halftime performers such as Kendrick Lamar, Usher, Rihanna, and The Weeknd. Lamar himself was the musical highlight of this year's Super Bowl, which drew a record-breaking 127 million viewers across the US.
Switching to his native Spanish, Bad Bunny—whose real name is Benito Antonio Martinez Ocasio—added a personal touch to his statement: "Ve y dile a tu abuela, que seremos el halftime show del Super Bowl," which roughly translates to, "Go tell your grandma we're going to be the Super Bowl halftime show." Jay-Z, whose Roc Nation company selects the halftime performer and produces their show, lauded Bad Bunny, stating, "What Bad Bunny has done and continues to do for Puerto Rico is truly inspiring. We are honored to have him grace the world's biggest stage."
In 2022, Bad Bunny's album "Un Verano Sin Ti" (A Summer Without You) made history as the first all-Spanish language album to reach number one in the US. The 31-year-old artist ranked as the third most-streamed artist globally last year, trailing only Taylor Swift and The Weeknd. Earlier this year, he released his latest album, "Debí Tirar Más Fotos" (I Should Have Taken More Photos). With three Grammy Awards under his belt, he was recently announced as the leading nominee at this year's Latin Grammy Awards.
Earlier this month, Bad Bunny wrapped up a residency in his native Puerto Rico, attracting over 500,000 fans. While Puerto Rico is a US territory, it enjoys considerable internal self-governance. His tour is set to kick off in the Dominican Republic in November, before traversing Central and South America, then heading to Australia, Japan, and Europe, including two nights at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London next summer.
"There were numerous reasons why I didn't include US dates on this tour, and none of them stemmed from hatred—I've performed there many times," the star explained to i-D about his absence from US shows. "All of those performances were successful. All of them were magnificent. I've cherished the opportunity to connect with Latinos living in the US." He continued, "But there was the issue of... ICE could be lurking outside [my concerts]. It's something we discussed and were deeply concerned about."
His Super Bowl performance will unfold at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, nestled in the San Francisco Bay Area. Beyond his musical prowess, Bad Bunny is also an accomplished actor, having starred in films like "Bullet Train" and the recent "Happy Gilmore 2." Additionally, he is set to return as the host of Saturday Night Live for a second time next month.
