The Bay Bad Bunny at the Super Bowl: Fans Feel Pride, But Also Fears of ICE
Feb 6, 2026
Carlos Cabrera Lomeli, a KQED community engagement reporter covering Latino and immigrant communities, discusses the 'Benito Bowl' phenomenon and local watch parties. He talks about cultural pride around Bad Bunny’s halftime performance. He also explores community fears of ICE presence, rapid response networks, and how locals plan to celebrate while staying safe.
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NFL Targets Latino Fans With Bad Bunny
- Bad Bunny's Super Bowl booking signals the NFL's push to diversify and court Latino audiences globally.
- The halftime slot is a strategic move to expand American football's reach across Latin America.
Puerto Rican Musician's Personal Pride
- Maria Medina Serafin moved from Puerto Rico and started an all-woman salsa band after arriving in San Francisco 40 years ago.
- She has listened to every Bad Bunny album and feels pride seeing Puerto Rico represented on a big stage.
Watch Parties Centered On Halftime
- Many Bay Area Super Bowl watch parties focus almost entirely on Bad Bunny's halftime set rather than the game.
- One Oakland party is fundraising for the California Collaborative for Immigrant Justice during the watch event.