Dangerous Bunny turned the Tremendous Bowl LX halftime present into one of the vital mentioned cultural moments of the yr because the Seattle Seahawks defeated the New England Patriots 29-13 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara.
In solely Spanish, the Puerto Rican artist delivered a fascinating efficiency centered on cultural imagery, visible storytelling, and themes of id that drew reward throughout politics, media, sports activities, and music, and criticism from President Donald Trump.
“Dangerous Bunny understood the project,” Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas) wrote as response unfold throughout social media in the course of the broadcast.
The 13-minute set moved via scenes tied to Puerto Rican historical past and on a regular basis life, together with sugarcane fields, domino video games, neighborhood salons, and a marriage ceremony that was later confirmed as actual. The efficiency additionally positioned the Caribbean and Latin America on the middle of the stage, with flags and callouts extending past the continental United States.
New York Journal famous on X that Dangerous Bunny shouted out nations throughout the Americas in the course of the efficiency, reframing “God Bless America” as inclusive of Latin America and the Caribbean.
Sports activities broadcaster Elle Duncan centered on the construction of the present.
“It was so sensible for Dangerous Bunny to have a lot storytelling via visible aids, figuring out simply pacing a stage wouldn’t resonate as nicely to non-Spanish audio system,” Duncan posed. “Thematically the efficiency was common, and he set a excessive bar for manufacturing worth transferring ahead.”
Journalist Mariana Atencio described the second as affirming fairly than confrontational.
“The Tremendous Bowl halftime present didn’t really feel like a protest. It felt like a homecoming,” Atencio wrote. “Dangerous Bunny might have gone one other route. He might have used the stage to confront. He might have named names. As an alternative, Benito selected one thing way more highly effective: a celebration of Latino id because it really lives and breathes in the USA, and in America.”
Trump criticized the efficiency publicly, calling it “one of many worst” halftime reveals. That evaluation drew a fast and sharp rebuke from information character Piers Morgan.
“Couldn’t disagree extra, Mr President,” Morgan argued. “I completely beloved Dangerous Bunny’s halftime present. Superb theatre and choreography, nice power, beautifully assured efficiency, and a really welcome unifying message. Oh, and Spanish is first language for greater than 50 million People.”
Ricky Martin, who joined Dangerous Bunny in the course of the present, praised the artist in an open letter printed forward of the Tremendous Bowl.
“You received with out altering the colour of your voice. You received with out erasing your roots. You received by staying true to Puerto Rico,” Martin wrote.
On social media, The Washington Submit described the halftime present as carrying healthful, conventional household values that aligned with a number of Tremendous Bowl commercials, whereas Rolling Stone later ranked Dangerous Bunny’s efficiency because the second-best halftime present in Tremendous Bowl historical past.
Bronx, New York Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson stated the efficiency arrived at a second when illustration issues.
“At a time when Hispanic, Latino and Caribbean communities are sometimes marginalized, Dangerous Bunny used the Tremendous Bowl stage to affirm tradition, variety, language, and American satisfaction,” Gibson wrote. “Rooted in Puerto Rican tradition, id and custom, his efficiency reminds us that illustration is just not solely symbolic, it’s highly effective.”
Corridor of Fame basketball coach Rick Pitino, who beforehand labored in Puerto Rico, added a private be aware.
“As somebody who hung out in Puerto Rico as their nationwide coach, watching Dangerous Bunny at halftime was superior,” Pitino stated. “You might have a seat on the Johnnies bench anytime. Viva Puerto Rico.”
One extensively shared social media submit described the present as “a large celebration of La Nueva Religión,” marked by Puerto Rican flags, an all-Spanish set, and imagery rooted in on a regular basis tradition.
“What Dangerous Bunny did in the present day on the Tremendous Bowl stage was an ideal demonstration of the excellence, creativity, and expertise of Latin individuals,” Brazilian artist Ludmilla declared.
