Bad Bunny's Super Bowl performance had a clear message for his fans and his haters.
The pop star's show was a colorful and vibrant vision of Puerto Rican culture and heritage, from a real life wedding to boxing matches - and even a surprise cameo from Ricky Martin. Against a backdrop of widespread immigration crackdowns and targeted rhetoric, Bad Bunny centered joy as an act of resistance - and as a space for all people in North and South America to unite.
Brittany is joined by Pop Culture Happy Hour cohost
Stephen Thompson, music and entertainment critic
Reanna Cruz, and
Alana Casanova-Burgess, host of La Brega podcast, to understand the version of America that Bad Bunny wants us to live in.
(0:00) Bad Bunny's performance was one of the all time greats
(03:04) The key moments: the parade of nations to Ricky Martin & Lady Gaga
(08:11) The story and world that Bad Bunny was building
(12:33) Weddings and joy as acts of resistance
(16:14) The Grammy, Liam Conejo Ramos, and what the moment meant
(23:57) Bad Bunny's radical politics vs. the NFL's politics
For more on Bad Bunny, check out this deep dive into his latest album:
Bad Bunny & the battle for Puerto RicoSupport Public Media.
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