6 Hidden Political Messages in Bad Bunny's Super Bowl Half-Time Show

Bad Bunny's Super Bowl halftime show was one of the highlights of this year's Super Bowl LX, not just for the music, but for the visuals that accompanied his performance. The Puerto Rican artist wove political statements throughout the set, referencing colonisation, sovereignty, and infrastructure struggles.

From sugar cane fields to exploding power lines, the performance carried multiple layers of meaning that resonated far beyond the stadium. Here are six hidden political messages embedded in the halftime show.

Sugar Cane Fields

Bad Bunny started his Super Bowl halftime set with 'Titi Me Pregunto' from his album 'Un Verano Sin Ti' while passing through a field of sugar cane with workers in straw hats. The visuals were a reference to the sugar cane workers and the colonisation of Puerto Rico, where Bad Bunny is from, by the US.

Within those sugar canes are scenes like two girls getting a manicure, or a drink vendor.

Ricky Martin's Verse

Artists who headline Super Bowl halftime shows sometimes invite fellow artists to perform with them. Amongst those who were part of Bad Bunny's set is Ricky Martin, who sang a verse from 'Lo Que Le Paso a Hawaii' from 'DeBi TiRaR MaS fOtoS'. Martin and Bad Bunny are known to be friends and have collaborated on a song, 'Caro', from Bad Bunny's debut album 'X 100pre'.

But the hidden political message was in the verse that Ricky Martin was singing when he appeared. The song in itself is another reference to colonisation, comparing Puerto Rico's colonisation to Hawaii's, including a potential to become a US state.

The Original Puerto Rico Flag

Another big yet subtle political message was the use of the original Puerto Rican flag, which might have come across as the Puerto Rican flag people know today. The original flag is a lighter shade of blue, usually associated with political independence and sovereignty. The darker blue triangle is widely believed to symbolise Puerto Rico being a US territory.

Power Lines

During 'El Apagon', Bad Bunny made another hidden political message in climbing on top of fake power line poles which would later explode. The song references the struggles Puerto Rico faces not just economically, but also infrastructurally, with the frustrations towards the US territory's electrical system. The eventual explosion of these power lines were also a nod to the island's power grid, with its residents experiencing frequent outages.

Toñita's Social Club

During Bad Bunny's 'NUEVAYoL', the visuals are a nod to a significant place in his career. It is a reference to the Caribbean Social Club, a Puerto Rican-owned business in Brooklyn, New York, where he celebrated the release of his album in 2025. Toñita herself also makes a special appearance, and fans can look out for her in the 'Nueva York' part of the set, serving Bad Bunny a drink.

God Bless America

Bad Bunny closed out his Super Bowl halftime set by declaring 'God bless America', then proceeding to name the countries that are part of the American continent. The flags of the countries mentioned are seen being waved, including the US flag. A sign in the background flashed the words, 'The only thing more powerful than hate is love'.

Bad Bunny ended his set by spiking a football with the phrase, 'Together, we are America.'