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In a groundbreaking Super Bowl halftime performance, Bad Bunny made history as the first artist to deliver an entire set in Spanish, captivating millions of viewers across America. The Puerto Rican superstar used his platform to promote unity across the Americas with a powerful message displayed on a large stage billboard: “The only thing more powerful than hate is love.”
The performance quickly became a focal point in America’s ongoing cultural conversations, with former president Donald Trump criticizing the show on his Truth Social platform shortly after it aired. This response was not unexpected, as Bad Bunny has established himself as a vocal commentator on U.S. politics, most notably during his Grammy acceptance speech for Best Música Urbana Album where he called for “ICE out,” referencing Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations that have resulted in deaths.
As his cultural significance continues to grow, Bad Bunny has become increasingly polarized in American media discourse. This polarization has fueled a wave of misinformation following his Super Bowl appearance, with several false claims spreading rapidly across social media platforms.
One viral claim alleged that the artist refused to stand for the U.S. national anthem during the Super Bowl. A video showing Bad Bunny sitting in a stadium while others stood gained over one million views on X (formerly Twitter). However, fact-checking revealed the footage was actually from October 7, 2023, when Bad Bunny attended a New York Yankees game, not the Super Bowl.
Further investigation clarified that the people in the video weren’t even singing the national anthem but rather “God Bless America.” According to the United States Code, only “The Star-Spangled Banner” is officially designated as the national anthem, requiring spectators to stand at attention. “God Bless America,” despite its patriotic nature, carries no such protocol requirements.
Another false claim that gained traction featured an AI-generated image showing Bad Bunny wearing a dress with transgender pride flag colors while burning an American flag. The image, which accumulated nearly one million views across various platforms, was clearly fabricated. While the artist is known for supporting the LGBTQ+ community and experimenting with gender-fluid fashion, technical analysis of the image revealed AI-generation markers, including a SynthID watermark when analyzed by Google’s Gemini system.
A third piece of misinformation involved the young boy who appeared in Bad Bunny’s performance. Social media posts claiming the child was Liam Conejo Ramos—a boy who had been arrested alongside his father during an ICE operation in Minnesota—garnered over 10 million views. In reality, the child was 5-year-old Lincoln Fox, a professional child actor and model represented by LA Model Management. During the performance, Fox participated in a staged scene where Bad Bunny symbolically handed his Grammy Award to a child watching his acceptance speech on television.
The confusion spread rapidly due to the emotional resonance of the ICE case and the similar ages of the children involved. Lincoln Fox himself confirmed his participation in the Super Bowl show through his Instagram account, and Bad Bunny’s publicist verified to NPR Music that the boy was not Liam Conejo Ramos.
Bad Bunny’s halftime performance represented a significant cultural moment for Hispanic representation in one of America’s most-watched television events. While the artist has always been politically outspoken, the spread of misinformation following his performance highlights the complex relationship between celebrity, politics, and social media in today’s polarized media environment.
As streaming numbers for his music continue to surge following the Super Bowl exposure, Bad Bunny’s influence in both American pop culture and political discourse appears likely to grow, regardless of the controversy surrounding his performances.
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11 Comments
The misinformation and false claims following Bad Bunny’s performance are concerning. We need to be vigilant about fact-checking and not spreading unsubstantiated rumors.
Absolutely. It’s important to rely on credible news sources and avoid blindly accepting everything we see on social media.
I’m curious to see how Bad Bunny’s increased political activism will impact his career and the broader cultural landscape. It’s a bold move, but one that could inspire meaningful change.
The backlash against Bad Bunny’s performance is disappointing but not surprising. Anytime an artist challenges the status quo, they face intense scrutiny and criticism.
You’re right. It’s important to remember that progress often comes with resistance. Bad Bunny’s courage in standing up for his beliefs is admirable.
Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl performance was a powerful statement about unity and inclusion. Despite the controversy, his message of love over hate resonates with many.
While I understand the controversy, I think Bad Bunny’s message of unity and love is an important one, especially in these divisive times. Music can be a powerful tool for bringing people together.
I appreciate Bad Bunny using his platform to highlight important social and political issues. Artists have a responsibility to engage with the world around them.
Agreed. As long as he remains respectful and avoids inciting violence, I think it’s great that Bad Bunny is using his voice for positive change.
Regardless of one’s political views, Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl performance was a historic moment for Latin music and representation on the world’s biggest stage.
I’m glad to see Bad Bunny using his platform to promote important messages of unity and social justice. Music has the power to transcend borders and bring people together.