Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl Show Carries a Bigger Message: What Is “American” Today?

After winning a Grammy, the reggaeton superstar brought Latin music into the heart of the “most American” event, stamping the idea that non-English artists can command the loudest stage. It was also a message to dancehall artistes

Celebration of Latin culture and a message of unity across the Americas

It has been a dream week for reggaeton superstar Bad Bunny. From winning a Grammy for Album of the Year with Debí Tirar Más Fotos to delivering a blockbuster halftime performance at the most glittering spectacle of all - the Super Bowl.

The so-called “most American event” was headlined by a Puerto Rican artist who brought the Latin world and the story of the Caribbean island of Puerto Rico straight into the heart of the mainstream. One of the most influential artists on the planet, Bad Bunny staged one of the most-watched halftime shows in history, drawing 135 million viewers according to reports, or 128 million according to Apple Music. Either way, the numbers are staggering - and they point to something much bigger.

Because beyond the viewership, there was a statement. Reggaeton - long regarded as Latin street music born from barrios and Caribbean rhythm - stood boldly at the center of the biggest stage in American entertainment. It was unapologetic, performed entirely in Spanish, and impossible to ignore - a direct answer to the doubters who once questioned whether it belonged there at all.

The final song of his 13-minute halftime set carried the strongest message. Caribbean flags waved across the screen, including Jamaica’s, alongside South American nations such as Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay. The symbolism was clear: unity. One America - not a country, but a continent.

However, that very message also fueled controversy. The performance sparked backlash in some circles, with conservative organization Turning Point USA even hosting an alternative halftime show in response.

Bad Bunny, who grew up in the suburbs of Puerto Rico, a small country of 3.2 million inhabitants, the son of a truck driver father and a teacher mother, brought up street music, The equivalent of rap, reggae and dancehall, the one that represents the Latin world to other peaks.

Unlike crossover reggaeton stars such as J Balvin, Karol G, and Ozuna, Bad Bunny is Puerto Rican to the core - born and raised in the birthplace of the genre itself. Shaped by blending pop and hip-hop textures, his music carries protest, social commentary, and unfiltered messages at its center.

He grew up during the era when Daddy Yankee’s “Gasolina” dominated airwaves, witnessing reggaeton’s first global spark. Then came 2016 and “Despacito,” which pushed the genre into a worldwide explosion. Bad Bunny didn’t just ride that wave = he expanded it.

He released five albums in just three years and became the first Spanish-language artist to repeatedly reach No. 1 on the Billboard 200. He was also Spotify’s most-streamed artist in 2020, 2022, and 2023 — joining an elite circle that includes Taylor Swift, Drake, and Ed Sheeran, all of whom perform primarily in English.

That trajectory was no accident. Bad Bunny does not bury his message in metaphors - he places identity, politics, and Puerto Rico’s lived reality front and center. His decision to perform in Spanish on the Super Bowl stage was deliberate and unapologetic. It also sparked criticism. Donald Trump and others argued that halftime performers “should sing in English.” But the debate was never really about language. It was about identity — and who gets to claim space on America’s biggest stage.

After all, reggae and dancehall helped shape reggaeton - from Shabba Ranks’ “Dem Bow” to riddims like “Bam Bam,” “Blood Fish Market,” and “Coolie Dance,” alongside the influence of artists such as Cutty Ranks. The Caribbean blueprint is undeniable.

So when Bad Bunny stands at the center of the Super Bowl stage, singing in Spanish and honoring his island, it’s more than spectacle. It’s a cultural moment - and a reminder of a bigger question: what does it truly mean to be American today?