On February 8, 2026, the popular Puerto Rican artist Bad Bunny performed at the NFL Super Bowl halftime show in Santa Clara, California.

Bad Bunny was Spotify’s top global artist in 2025 and won Album of the Year at the Grammy Awards earlier this month. His music, entirely in Spanish, explores Latino culture along with Puerto Rico’s gentrification.

Bad Bunny’s performance included references to Puerto Rico’s colonial history and culture, such as sugarcane production and typical pava hats. He delivered a dynamic show that many viewers enjoyed because it illustrated “qué rico es ser Latino,” which translates to, “how wonderful it is to be Latin.”

As he neared the end of his performance, Bad Bunny shouted, “God bless America,” a phrase that elicited an enthusiastic response from the crowd. However, he was not simply referring to the United States. Bad Bunny proceeded to list all the countries and territories of North, Central and South America, revealing that “together, we are America.” This statement subverted audience expectations and encouraged viewers to celebrate the diverse cultures and traditions that constitute all of the Americas, demonstrating the purpose of his performance: to promote unity and love.

The message was not well received by some MAGA supporters, who expressed outrage that a Spanish-speaking artist had been invited to perform at the Super Bowl. In protest, they tuned in to the All-American Halftime Show organized by Turning Point USA, whose lineup of singers demonstrated that, for them, American culture should adhere to rigid standards that exclude performers like Bad Bunny. Ironically, many of these same viewers consume chips and salsa or guacamole every year as part of their Super Bowl celebrations.

For those who do not enjoy Bad Bunny’s style, that is understandable. Everyone has their own musical preferences, and his performance may have made some viewers uncomfortable. However, critics who focus on his singing in Spanish fail to acknowledge that music transcends language. It unites listeners and inspires them to sing and dance along.

While politicians use divisive rhetoric to increase the tension between parties, Bad Bunny opted for a different approach. He promoted a unifying message and shared the richness of cultural diversity.