Slate News What Next - Bad Bunny Has Already Won The Super Bowl
Feb 5, 2026
Vanessa Díaz, associate professor and co-author studying Bad Bunny’s role in Puerto Rican resistance. She unpacks his cultural and political significance, the party-as-protest aesthetic, and how his Super Bowl presence shifts visibility for Puerto Rico and Latin Americans. Short takes on backlash, symbolism, and why major institutions sought him.
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Super Bowl Slot Is Symbolic And Strategic
- Bad Bunny's Super Bowl slot is both a business win for the NFL and a politically meaningful moment for Puerto Rican visibility.
- The selection exposed ignorance about Puerto Rico and provoked strong reactions from Trump-era figures and critics.
Jimmy Fallon Moment Cemented His Voice
- Vanessa recalls Bad Bunny's 2018 Jimmy Fallon debut where he directly called out post-Maria failures in English.
- That risky moment established him as a political voice early in his US exposure.
Music Rooted In Puerto Rico's Colonial Crisis
- Bad Bunny's politics and art are shaped by Puerto Rico's 30-year stretch of crises and colonial status.
- Understanding his music requires grasping Puerto Rico's fiscal collapse, PROMESA, and limited U.S. representation.
