The Current The politics of Bad Bunny's Super Bowl halftime show
Feb 6, 2026
Richard Villegas, music journalist and creator/host of the Song Mess podcast who covers Latin American music and community commentary. He traces Bad Bunny’s rise from SoundCloud to global Spanish-language stardom. They discuss creative control, Latino representation at the Super Bowl, possible political signals about colonization and deportation, and the likely high-energy mix of reggaeton, salsa and Puerto Rican roots.
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Halftime Slot Is A Political Statement
- Bad Bunny's Grammy speech framed him as a political artist unafraid to name ICE and immigration issues.
- His Super Bowl booking is politically charged and has already provoked strong reactions, including from President Trump.
From Grocery Aisles To Global Star
- Richard Villegas recounts Bad Bunny's rise from bagging groceries to global superstar after starting on SoundCloud.
- He highlights Bad Bunny's ownership of his masters and creative control through Rimas, allowing bold artistic moves.
Challenging Reggaeton Masculinity
- Villegas notes Bad Bunny pushes gender norms in reggaeton, citing the 'Yo Perreo Sola' video in drag.
- That transgressive visual approach keeps him ahead creatively and culturally.