Bad Bunny’s Star-Studded Halftime Performance
Latin superstar Bad Bunny, also known as Benito Antonio Martinez Ocasio, lit up the Super Bowl 2026 halftime show with a medley of his top hits. The Puerto Rican singer shared the stage with Lady Gaga, Ricky Martin, Cardi B, and Jessica Alba in a performance full of energy and Puerto Rican culture.
The show featured a rooftop casita, salsa dancing, Puerto Rican flags, a mock sugarcane field, and even a wedding on stage. Bad Bunny also presented a young boy with a Grammy trophy, sparking social media speculation that he was Liam Conejo Ramos, a 5-year-old recently released from ICE custody. It was later confirmed that the boy was professional child actor Lincoln Fox.
Lady Gaga, whose real name is Stefani Germanotta, performed a salsa version of her hit “Die With A Smile” and called the experience an “absolute honor” on Instagram. Ricky Martin expressed gratitude to Bad Bunny for the emotional performance, saying it took him hours to process the experience.
Trump Criticizes the Halftime Show
Former US President Donald Trump, who did not attend the event, slammed Bad Bunny’s performance on Truth Social. He called it “absolutely terrible” and criticized the dancing as inappropriate for children.
In contrast, California Governor Gavin Newsom praised the show, tweeting, “America, the beautiful. THANK YOU, BAD BUNNY.”
Conservative Alternative: Kid Rock Headlines
Turning Point USA hosted an alternative halftime show, featuring Kid Rock and country singers Lee Brice, Brantley Gilbert, and Gabby Barrett. The event, streamed online, included a performance of the Star-Spangled Banner and received praise from US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth. He described it as a celebration of freedom and patriotism.
Super Bowl Ads: AI and Health Take the Spotlight
The Super Bowl 2026 featured high-profile commercials, including AI and health products. Tennis legend Serena Williams promoted Ro’s weight loss jab, claiming she lost 34lbs using the product. While some fans criticized the ad for promoting diet products instead of body positivity, Williams has openly supported weight loss jabs in the past.
AI companies also dominated the ad space. Anthropic advertised its AI assistant Claude with a humorous commercial about miscommunication with a mother, indirectly criticizing rival ChatGPT. Amazon featured a Chris Hemsworth-starring ad about a rogue Alexa AI assistant plotting against its user.
Conclusion
The Super Bowl 2026 was memorable for its cultural celebration, celebrity sightings, and marketing innovations. Bad Bunny’s halftime show sparked both praise and controversy, while AI and health ads captured the audience’s attention.
