More Than a Halftime Show: Why I’m Getting Ready for the “Benito Bowl”

Why Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl performance is the American success story we need right now.

I’ll be honest with you: until recently, I knew the hits, but I wasn’t exactly a “Bad Bunny fan”. But this week, as the noise around the Super Bowl halftime show reached a fever pitch, I found myself diving deep into the story of Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, better known as Bad Bunny.

What I found wasn’t just a global pop star. It’s a story about identity, resilience, and the kind of “All-American” success that some people seem very eager to ignore.

What’s Actually Happening

On February 8, 2026, Bad Bunny will make history as the first solo Latin artist to headline the Super Bowl halftime show. While most of us are ready to dance, the announcement has sparked a strange and frankly exhausting backlash:

• The “International” Label: Some media outlets and one NFL player called this an “international” booking, arguing for an “American” headliner.

• A Basic Fact Check: Benito is Puerto Rican, which means he is a U.S. citizen by birth. This isn’t a “foreign takeover”; it’s a celebration of an American citizen.

• The Alternative: In response to the “MAGA regime’s” dislike of the choice, there’s been a push for an “alternative” show headlined by Kid Rock, whose own lyrics, let’s just say, aren’t exactly family-friendly.

Why This Matters

This matters because Benito’s journey is the quintessential American dream. Ten years ago, he wasn’t a global icon; he was a college student in Puerto Rico bagging groceries at a supermarket. He spent his nights uploading tracks to SoundCloud, building his own path from the ground up.

But it’s also about more than just music. Bad Bunny has consistently used his massive platform to speak truth to power:

• Political Courage: He has been vocal about the targeting of immigrant communities, even excluding the continental U.S. from his last tour out of fear that ICE would target his fans at the venues.

• Fighting with Love: At the 2026 Grammys, where he won Album of the Year for an all-Spanish release, he reminded us that the only thing more powerful than hate is love.

• A Voice for the People: His music has long been a tool for protest, calling out injustices and the manipulation of news in ways that feel incredibly relevant to what we’re all living through right now.

The “Benito Bowl” 🐰🇵🇷

We’re calling this the “Benito Bowl,” and doing it with a smile.

It’s easy to get bogged down in the arguments about who “belongs” on that stage, but when I look at Benito, I see a man who refuses to shrink himself to make others comfortable. He doesn’t feel the need to translate his lyrics or his culture to be understood. As he says, you don’t need to speak Spanish to enjoy the show, you just need to follow the “heartbeat dance”.

In a time when so much feels heavy, seeing a Latino man on that stage, standing in his truth and inviting everyone to dance, feels like a necessary win. It’s a reminder that our culture isn’t a “niche”—it’s a powerhouse.

So, this weekend, I’m choosing to ignore the noise. I’m going to get off my chair, loosen my hips, and celebrate a story of hard work and heart. I hope you’ll join me. Even if you don’t know a word of Spanish, just let your heart lead the way.

And if you’re wondering where I got my hoodie, check out Concho.org; 100% of profits will support anti-ICE efforts together in the States and on La Isla (Puerto Rico).

Con cariño,