The Super Bowl stage belongs to spectacle — but this year, Bad Bunny turned it into a classroom, teaching lessons in culture, resilience, and the universal language of art.
Some critics dismissed him before he even performed, arguing he wasn’t “American.”
Yet Puerto Rico is a U.S. territory, and Bad Bunny is undeniably American. Beyond that, the NFL’s choice made sense: he has been the highest-streamed artist for the past four years and a multiple Grammy winner.
Context matters: Rihanna and Shakira aren’t American, The Weeknd is Canadian, and icons like The Who and The Rolling Stones are British. There have been 13 non-American Super Bowl halftime performers, yet Bad Bunny’s heritage sparked controversy unnecessarily.
Some critics also objected because the performance wasn’t in English. But art transcends language. Opera, classical music, dance, and visual art have moved people for centuries without a single English word. Music and performance connect us through emotion and shared humanity.
Bad Bunny’s show was both cultural and educational. When he appeared atop power poles, he referenced the devastating outages in Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria and the slow federal response, drawing attention to a piece of history millions may not have known.
Even without understanding the lyrics, the performance’s message was clear: love, unity and joy - universal truths requiring no translation. It reminded us that art can educate, provoke thought, and inspire empathy.
Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl performance showed that music, movement, and artistry can transcend language, celebrate diversity, and confront history. In doing so, it reminded us that art has the power to unite, and to teach, across languages, cultures and borders.
Elaine Lewis, South Jordan