Benito Antonio Martinez Ocasio, also known by the stage name Bad Bunny, has experienced a global wave of success like no other modern Latino artist. After the immense success of his last album, Debi Tirar Mas Fotos, it almost seemed impossible for his success to escalate. Yet, recently, he was announced to be the performer for this year’s Super Bowl and received six Grammy nominations, the second highest of all nominees. Both of these accomplishments are very impressive, but I would argue more than that. They are necessary.
The year 2025 has been a tumultuous one for the Latin-American community. With ICE raids being at an all-time high and verbal attacks on immigrants, especially those of Latino backgrounds. In a time of uncertainty, Bad Bunny has been a glimmer of hope: being raised in Puerto Rico, his music is all in Spanish and uses genres like reggaeton. His music, whether from his catchy hits, Callaita, or the melancholic melodies, Baile Inolvidable, provides Latin-Americans the culture people are trying to steer them away from.
There have been many Latino artists performing during Super Bowls, with Bad Bunny himself being a guest in a previous show. However, there is a significant difference in this upcoming 2026 show. No artist who only speaks Spanish has performed at the Super Bowl before, and now, Bad Bunny is setting history. The Super Bowl acts as a tradition in the United States; everyone watches it, even if they do not enjoy sports.
I have seen complaints surrounding Bad Bunny’s performance, with many people stating they wanted to see an “American artist”. Puerto Rico is an American territory, making all Puerto Ricans U.S. Citizens. Furthermore, I would argue that giving this spotlight to a group of Americans who have been neglected by their government is a rather American act; after all, this country’s pillars preach ideals of representation for all citizens. Even then, many of the most memorable Super Bowl halftime shows like Coldplay, the Beatles, and U2.
Another argument that is circulating about this choice is complaints that Bad Bunny does not speak English, which is true. Not everyone who watches the Super Bowl speaks English either. As a country, the United States has no formal language. This choice also makes sense as the NFL likely wants to appeal to audiences outside of the U.S., so they have more viewers.
Regardless of opinions surrounding the Super Bowl, Bad Bunny has seen major success with his latest album, which has amassed over 7 billion listens. His album topped the Billboard and streaming platforms upon its release, a significant feat especially for a Spanish-language album. I am excited to see how the Grammys shake out later on this year. I truly do hope Bad Bunny wins the awards he deserves. Not only was his last album a well-orchestrated album, but his victory would be a victory for the Latino community as a whole.
