Celebrity and media reactions to Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl halftime show were largely celebratory but not unanimous: praise focused on Puerto Rican identity, Spanish-language music, theatrical staging, and Lady Gaga and Ricky Martin, while criticism targeted the language, politics, immigration debates, and his selection as headliner.
Bad Bunny performed the Apple Music Super Bowl LX Halftime Show on February 8, 2026, at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California. The performance became more than a concert segment: it was a highly visible statement about Puerto Rican culture and Latino representation, as well as a flashpoint in U.S. cultural and political debate.
Key takeaways
- Bad Bunny headlined the Apple Music Super Bowl LX Halftime Show on February 8, 2026, at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California.
- Lady Gaga and Ricky Martin joined Bad Bunny, while the staging highlighted Puerto Rican culture, La Casita, and a wedding sequence involving a real couple.
- The set drew heavily from DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS and included recognizable songs such as “Tití Me Preguntó.”
- Apple reported that Bad Bunny listens on Apple Music rose sevenfold immediately after halftime, while Forbes reported more than 135 million views for the performance.
- Celebrity, entertainment, and fan reactions were predominantly celebratory, but the largely Spanish-language set and Bad Bunny’s political associations also prompted cultural and political criticism.
What did celebrities say about Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl halftime show?
Celebrity reactions to Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl halftime show were largely enthusiastic. Forbes documented responses from figures including BTS member j-hope and Grammy Award winner EJAE, while ELLE collected praise, jokes, memes, and fan reactions from platforms including X, Instagram, and TikTok. Selena Gomez was among the recognizable names highlighted in the social-media response.
Sports figures also joined the conversation. ESPN’s roundup showed that the halftime performance travelled well beyond music coverage, becoming a subject of discussion among athletes, football personalities, fans, and general viewers. The reaction was not a single consensus: entertainment praise, celebrity posts, fan excitement, professional reviews, and political criticism represented different kinds of response.
#1 Best Overall
- Genre: Rock, Latin Pop/Rock
- Number of Discs: 2
- Number of Tracks: 17
- Album Title: DEBI TIRAR MAS FOTOS
- Music Artist/Band: Bad Bunny
Forbes’ celebrity and media roundup, ELLE’s social-media reaction collection, and ESPN’s sports and social-media coverage are useful to read together because each source captures a different part of the response.
How did the media react to Bad Bunny at the Super Bowl?
Major media coverage generally treated the performance as a significant cultural event rather than an ordinary halftime concert. The Associated Press framed the show as a celebration of Puerto Rican history and culture and as a landmark moment for Latino visibility. The Los Angeles Times likewise emphasized the show’s Puerto Rican identity and its optimistic interpretation of the American experience.
The positive coverage focused on the performance’s scale, visual storytelling, use of Spanish, and refusal to reduce Puerto Rican identity to a brief decorative reference. The show presented Puerto Rico as the center of its narrative, with music, dance, symbols, and staging working together.
That praise should not be confused with universal approval. Other coverage recorded objections to Bad Bunny’s selection, the predominantly Spanish-language set, his public political associations, and immigration-enforcement debates. The most accurate summary is that the show received a large and visible celebratory response while also becoming a flashpoint in U.S. arguments about language, politics, immigration, and cultural belonging.
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Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →| Reaction category | What it emphasized | Representative coverage |
|---|---|---|
| Professional reviews | Artistic ambition, Puerto Rican history, staging, and cultural meaning | Associated Press and Los Angeles Times |
| Celebrity reactions | Praise, surprise, memes, and support for Bad Bunny and the guest appearances | Forbes and ELLE |
| Fan and social-media reactions | Memorable songs, visual moments, La Casita, and the emotional impact of representation | ELLE and ESPN |
| Sports-related reactions | The performance’s reach among football audiences and sports personalities | ESPN |
| Political criticism | Language choice, immigration enforcement, political associations, and the headliner decision | Forbes, ELLE, ESPN, and broader event coverage |
Who performed with Bad Bunny at the Super Bowl?
Lady Gaga and Ricky Martin appeared with Bad Bunny during the halftime set. Lady Gaga’s appearance was one of the most discussed surprises, while Ricky Martin connected the performance to Puerto Rican and Latin pop history. The guests added star power, but their appearances also reinforced the show’s broader cultural narrative rather than functioning only as unrelated cameos.
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Coverage from Vogue’s guest roundup, the Associated Press event report, and Vanity Fair’s La Casita coverage also examined the wider celebrity environment surrounding the performance.
Why was Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl show important for Puerto Rico?
Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl show was important for Puerto Rico because the performance placed Puerto Rican culture and identity at the center of one of the most visible entertainment events in the United States. The set used Spanish-language music, Puerto Rican imagery, and references to history and community as the substance of the show, not merely as background decoration.
La Casita became a key staging concept. The set also included a Puerto Rican cultural tour and a wedding sequence involving a real couple, moments that made the performance feel like a celebration of community as well as a conventional pop spectacle. The approach helped explain why many favorable reviews described the show as a milestone for Latinos and Puerto Ricans.
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The cultural significance also explains some of the criticism. A predominantly Spanish-language halftime show challenged the expectation that a Super Bowl performance should be delivered mainly in English. The resulting debate was about more than musical taste: it raised questions about whose language, history, and identity are treated as central in mainstream U.S. entertainment.
What songs did Bad Bunny perform at the Super Bowl?
Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl set drew heavily from his album DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS while also incorporating familiar catalog material, including “Tití Me Preguntó.” Apple identified “DtMF,” “BAILE INoLVIDABLE,” and “Tití Me Preguntó” among the songs that received the most immediate post-performance listening attention.
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- Bad Bunny - debí tirar más fotos - Opaque Colored Double Record Album - Vinyl LP
For fans who want a physical version of the album that shaped much of the show, Bad Bunny’s DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS vinyl is listed as a 2xLP release. Availability, format, and price can change, so check the current listing before buying.
Apple’s official post-show report connected the performance to a substantial listening response. According to Apple’s February 8, 2026 report, “Immediately after the Apple Music Super Bowl LX Halftime Show, Bad Bunny listens on Apple Music were up 7x.” Apple also reported more than 63 million views across the halftime-show press-conference livestream and related social clips within 48 hours. Those are Apple-reported platform figures, not independent audience audits.
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1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches| Setlist or performance element | Role in the show | Why it mattered to the reaction |
|---|---|---|
| “DtMF” | One of the songs Apple identified among the immediate post-show listening leaders | Connected the halftime performance to Bad Bunny’s current album era |
| “BAILE INoLVIDABLE” | Highlighted in Apple’s post-show listening data | Helped carry the album’s music to viewers who discovered it through the broadcast |
| “Tití Me Preguntó” | Recognizable catalog song included in the set | Gave casual viewers a familiar Bad Bunny hit alongside newer material |
| DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS material | Supplied much of the repertoire | Made the show a major exposure point for the album |
How large was the audience response?
The available figures indicate an unusually large response, but the numbers should remain attributed to the organizations that reported them. According to Apple in 2026, Bad Bunny listens on Apple Music increased sevenfold immediately after halftime. According to Apple in 2026, more than 63 million views accumulated across the halftime-show press-conference livestream and related social clips within 48 hours. According to Forbes in 2026, the performance generated more than 135 million views and was described as the most-watched halftime show in Super Bowl history.
The Apple figures measure activity within Apple’s ecosystem and should not be presented as independent audience measurement. The Forbes figure should likewise remain attributed to Forbes unless a primary NFL or measurement-company source supplies a separately verified methodology.
Where can viewers watch Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl halftime show?
The official NFL-published performance video is available through the NFL’s official YouTube upload of Bad Bunny’s Apple Music Super Bowl LX Halftime Show. The NFL’s official Super Bowl Halftime Show page provides the event’s official web presence. Availability of additional replays or music content can vary by platform and geography.
Apple Music also published the official post-show account and listening context. This article does not claim that any third-party streaming service carries a licensed replay, because the relevant catalog and rights were not verified.
Was Bad Bunny’s halftime show controversial?
Yes. Bad Bunny’s halftime show was controversial in addition to being widely celebrated. Criticism centered on the predominantly Spanish-language performance, Bad Bunny’s political associations, immigration-enforcement debates, and opposition to his selection as headliner.
The controversy does not establish that the performance was poorly received overall. The evidence supports a more precise conclusion: the show’s artistic and cultural choices generated substantial praise, while the same choices made the performance a target for political and cultural backlash.
Separating the reaction into professional reviews, celebrity posts, fan responses, sports reactions, and political criticism prevents the event from being reduced to a misleading “positive or negative” verdict. The show was successful as a media event partly because it made representation, language, and cultural identity impossible to ignore.
What is the fairest verdict on the reaction?
The fairest verdict is that Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl LX halftime show became both a celebratory entertainment success and a cultural argument. Supporters praised the Puerto Rican identity, Spanish-language presentation, theatrical staging, and appearances by Lady Gaga and Ricky Martin. Critics questioned the language choice, the headliner selection, Bad Bunny’s politics, and the political implications surrounding immigration enforcement.
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The performance mattered because it did not present Puerto Rico as a footnote to a generic American spectacle. It made Puerto Rican history, music, and identity the organizing idea of the halftime show. That choice produced admiration from celebrities, media outlets, and fans, while also exposing the continuing disagreement over what mainstream U.S. entertainment should sound and look like.
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Frequently Asked Questions
When and where did Bad Bunny perform at the Super Bowl?
Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl halftime show took place on February 8, 2026, at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California. The performance was the Apple Music Super Bowl LX Halftime Show.
Who joined Bad Bunny during the halftime show?
Lady Gaga and Ricky Martin joined Bad Bunny during the Super Bowl LX halftime performance. Their appearances connected the show to contemporary pop culture and Puerto Rican and Latin pop history.
Why was Bad Bunny’s halftime show controversial?
The halftime show was controversial because it was performed predominantly in Spanish and because Bad Bunny’s political associations, immigration-enforcement debates, and headliner selection attracted criticism. The controversy existed alongside substantial praise for the show’s cultural representation and staging.
What album and songs did Bad Bunny feature at the Super Bowl?
The performance drew heavily from DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS and included “Tití Me Preguntó.” Apple identified “DtMF,” “BAILE INoLVIDABLE,” and “Tití Me Preguntó” among the songs with the strongest immediate post-show listening response.
The Bottom Line
Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl LX halftime show drew predominantly celebratory celebrity and media reaction, especially for its Puerto Rican identity, Spanish-language music, theatrical staging, and Lady Gaga and Ricky Martin appearances. The show was also politically contested, making the most accurate description a major cultural event and a flashpoint—not a universally praised or universally rejected performance.
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