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Fact Check: Child Actor in Super Bowl Halftime Show Misidentified as ICE Detainee
Claims that a young boy who received a Grammy Award from Puerto Rican singer Bad Bunny during the 2026 Super Bowl halftime show was Liam Ramos, a 5-year-old previously detained by ICE, are false, according to official sources and representatives from both parties.
The February 8 performance sparked widespread speculation across social media platforms when viewers witnessed Bad Bunny hand one of his Grammy Awards to a young boy during an emotional segment of his performance. Posts quickly circulated claiming the child was Liam Conejo Ramos, who had made headlines weeks earlier after he and his father were detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in Minnesota.
“The little boy Bad Bunny gave his Grammy to during the halftime show is reportedly Liam Conejo Ramos, the 5-year-old boy arrested by ICE, and only released after massive protests,” read one widely-shared post that prompted numerous inquiries to fact-checking organizations.
However, multiple sources have confirmed the child in the halftime show was actually a child actor named Lincoln Fox. Fox’s Instagram account, which describes him as half Argentine and half Egyptian, shared footage of his appearance alongside Bad Bunny and other performers at the event.
In the performance, visible at the 9:10 mark of the official NFL broadcast, Lincoln is seated in front of a television watching Bad Bunny win a Grammy Award. The singer then approaches the child and hands him the award while saying in Spanish, “Always believe in yourself” – a symbolic moment representing the artist’s own journey.
Lincoln’s talent agency, The W Group, also shared clips of the young actor’s performance, referring to him as a “superstar” and tagging his official social media accounts.
In a post about the performance, Lincoln’s Instagram account acknowledged the confusion while expressing support for Liam Ramos: “An emotional, unforgettable day being cast as the young Benito — a symbolic moment where the future hands the past a Grammy. A reminder that dreams come true and that it’s never too early to dream big. Sending love to Liam Ramos. We all deserve peace and love in America, a country built by and home to so many hard-working immigrants.”
Representatives for both parties have directly addressed the misidentification. Bad Bunny’s publicist confirmed to NPR that the boy was not Liam Ramos, while a spokesperson for Liam’s family told Minnesota Public Radio that he did not participate in the Super Bowl performance.
Physical comparisons of verified photographs of Liam Ramos against footage of the Super Bowl performance further confirm they are different children, with distinct facial features including differences in eyebrows, ears, and head shape.
The confusion comes amid ongoing public interest in Liam Ramos’ case, which gained national attention in January. Liam and his father were released from ICE detention on February 1 and returned to Minnesota after a federal judge temporarily barred their deportation. On February 6, just two days before the Super Bowl, a judge granted the Ramos family additional time to build their case for asylum proceedings.
The detention had sparked controversy when school officials claimed ICE had used Liam as “bait” to make arrests – an allegation the Department of Homeland Security, which oversees ICE, disputed. DHS claimed Liam’s father had fled from arrest, thus “abandoning his child.”
The viral misidentification highlights the intersection of entertainment, immigration politics, and social media’s tendency to rapidly spread unverified information, particularly regarding high-profile cases that have captured public attention.
Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl performance, the first to be predominantly in Spanish, has generated numerous other claims requiring fact-checking, reflecting the cultural significance and heightened scrutiny surrounding the globally-watched event.
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9 Comments
I appreciate the Disinformation Commission’s attention to detail in this case. It’s important to verify claims, especially those involving vulnerable individuals, before amplifying them online. This helps maintain trust in public discourse.
Glad the sources confirmed the child was a child actor, not the detained Liam Ramos. Spreading misinformation, even with good intentions, can do more harm than good. It’s reassuring to see responsible fact-checking at work.
While the initial reports were compelling, I’m glad the facts were clarified. It’s always best to wait for official confirmation before sharing sensitive information online. Kudos to the fact-checkers for their diligence.
Absolutely, knee-jerk reactions and unverified claims can do more harm than good, even with good intentions. It’s crucial to let the facts emerge before jumping to conclusions.
Well done to the Disinformation Commission for taking the time to investigate this claim and provide the facts. Responsible journalism and fact-checking are crucial in an age of rampant misinformation.
This is a good reminder to be cautious about unverified claims, especially when they involve public figures or emotional topics. It’s commendable that the Disinformation Commission took the time to thoroughly investigate and set the record straight.
Interesting fact check. It’s good to see that the claims about the child at the Super Bowl halftime show were false. It’s important to verify information before spreading it online, especially when it involves sensitive issues like immigration.
This is a good example of why we need reliable fact-checking resources to combat the spread of misinformation. It’s easy for false narratives to gain traction, so it’s reassuring to see the Disinformation Commission setting the record straight.
Agreed. Fact-checking is an essential service in our modern information landscape. Kudos to the Disinformation Commission for their thorough investigation and commitment to the truth.