‘He made me proud of America’: Stars react to Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl show | Bad bunny

As blue, red and white fireworks filled the sky at the end of Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl halftime show, a message filled the screen in all capitals: “The only thing stronger than hate is love.”

It was the lasting statement from the 13-minute scene that invited an estimated 135.4 million viewers into Bad Bunny’s world, with rich references to Puerto Rican politics, history and culture. Artist born Benito Antonio Martinez Ocasio has transformed Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, into his own love letter to the island, with cinematic sequences including sugar cane fields, a house party, and a lively wedding featuring a surprise performance by Lady Gaga.

By contrast, right-wing Turning Point USA’s All-American halftime show attracted just 5.2 million viewers. The event promised to offer an alternative by celebrating “American culture, freedom and faith” and featured country singer Kid Rock performing in a fedora and jeans against a backdrop of the stars and stripes, in a performance that appeared to be partially lip-synced.

Meanwhile, Bad Bunny took advantage of the broadness of the definition of “America,” exclaiming “God bless America” ​​before listing off a list of countries and territories including the United States and “America.”I don’t know“, Puerto Rico.

On Truth Social, Donald Trump called Bad Bunny’s show “absolutely terrible, one of the worst shows,” and “a slap in the face to our country.” Piers Morgan later responded to Trump, writing: “I couldn’t disagree with you more, Mr. President. Absolutely loved Bad Bunny’s halftime show… Oh, and Spanish is the first language of over 50 million Americans!”

Meghan McCain also showed her support, writing: “I’m sorry but I sincerely wonder what your taste level would be if you didn’t enjoy Bad Bunny’s halftime show.”

Among the celebrities who supported Bad Bunny’s performance was Grammy Award-winning artist Kacey Musgraves, who wrote on X: “This made me feel more American pride than anything Kid Rock has ever done.” Rapper Doechii also wrote: “Bad Bunny wow! Fucking, wow. History.”

Country music star Zach Bryan also mocked the alternative show, sharing a video of someone blocking Bad Bunny’s set with his hand and watching Turning Point perform. “What the rock kid thinks is actually happening all over America,” he wrote in an Instagram story.

As Brazilian director Kleber Mendonça Filho, whose film “Secret Agent” is up for Oscars next month, wrote: “What a beautiful and extraordinary thing, the Bad Bunny at the Super Bowl reminds the United States of who they are and where they are.”

California Governor Gavin Newsom wrote: “America the beautiful. Thank you, Bad Bunny.” Earlier, Newsom declared Sunday “National Bad Bunny Day” in California. Tom Brady summed up the public response by writing, “Amazing!!!!!!!!!” In Instagram story.

In a five-star review, Stephanie Fernandez of The Guardian called it a celebration of “love, community and the sheer joy we create together every day despite everything else.”

Earlier this month, Bad Bunny took home an Album of the Year Grammy for his 2025 release Debí Tirar Más Fotos, which blends traditional Puerto Rican genres with hip-hop and reggaeton. In one of his speeches that night, he said: “We are not savages, we are not animals, we are not aliens. We are human beings and we are Americans… The only thing stronger than hate is love.”

Last year, he was the most streamed global artist on Spotify with more than 19.8 billion streams, beating out Taylor Swift, who has held that title for the past two years.

References to politics in the halftime show were subtle but frequent. On stage, Bad Bunny carried the Puerto Rican independence flag, the territory’s original flag that was banned until 1952 and features its sky-blue triangle. While performing the salsa version of Bruno Mars’ 2024 duet Die With a Smile, Lady Gaga wore a dress in the same color.

Ricky Martin hosted and performed Lo Que le Pasó a Hawaii, a plea against gentrification and white tourism in Puerto Rico with a Spanish-language hook that translates to “I don’t want them to do to you what they did to Hawaii.” “I need several hours to process the tsunami of emotions I’m feeling,” he later wrote on social media.

While performing El Apagón, Bad Bunny pointed out the frequent power outages in the area along with dancers climbing fading power pylons.

In addition to showing the artist’s humble side, he also proved his charismatic power with his house party segment, which featured stars including rapper Cardi B, actor Pedro Pascal, and Colombian singer Karol G.

Before the show, Bad Bunny said: “I really want people to have fun. It’s going to be a huge party. I want to bring what people can always expect from me, a lot of my culture.”