Bad Bunny generated a lot of buzz at this year’s Super Bowl, as his participation was controversial from the start. Donald Trump and many Americans didn’t want him to perform at the halftime show because he is Puerto Rican, not “American”. (But of course PR is part of America so that’s false logic!). This led to a petition to replace Bad Bunny as the halftime performer, with 100,000 signatures signed in support of replacing him with Kid Rock. The issue was also controversial given the ongoing mass deportations of Latinos and Hispanics in the United States, which are being carried out with a clear abuse of power by ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement). Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl appearance sparked outrage against Trump, who wants to remove Latinos from the United States.
Bad Bunny’s performance included songs like “Lo Que Le Pasó a Hawai” and “El Apagón.” These songs portray the United States as a colonizer, explaining how the US takes advantage of the vulnerable situations of weaker countries to colonize them. They explain that Puerto Rico is becoming a place of misery because the US doesn’t provide much economic support to the island, instead using it primarily as a tourist destination to generate more revenue.
Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl performance held significant symbolic meaning for Latinos, but the most important aspect was his message to Americans, especially Trump and members of the administration. In his message, he made several points clear, such as the idea that America is not a single country but an entire continent, mentioning all the countries of the Americas, including Canada, which he pointed out lives under the shadow of the United States. Another message focused on Puerto Rican culture, highlighting its importance and involvement in the United States, with establishments like Casa de Toñita, a restaurant known for its culturally significant drinks such as coquito, a typical Puerto Rican beverage.
This presentation was a provocation and a demonstration of opposition to ICE, but also a joyful celebration of Puerto Rican and Hispanic culture everywhere. Bad Bunny’s showed us that the United States is only a country where Latinos come to earn money and not to be part of American culture, since Latinos have their own culture and traditions.
