On one of the most American stages in entertainment, Bad Bunny centered Puerto Rico. Latino AAU students reflect on how the performance reframed the night as a celebration of Latin identity, unity and cultural resilience.
At Levi’s Stadium, a replica “la casita” stood on the field, echoing the island’s community‑centered homes. The performance featured sugarcane fields and local vendors honoring reggaetón’s roots with a brief tribute to “Gasolina.”
AAU students watched the show live, despite the time difference. Second-year Mexican students Amelie Villagomez and Regina Milán Peralta reflected on how the performance resonated with them.
“We were basically at the bar just to see the halftime show… we wanted to go see it and have fun and dance,” Villagomez said.
Moments of Latin American pride shone throughout the performance, most prominently during Bad Bunny’s performance of Café Con Ron where he spoke his only English words of the night, saying “God bless America,” followed by naming Mexico and Cuba to the United States and Canada.
“I think people don’t really understand that message of unity of America as a whole continent,” Villagomez said. “In Latin America, we feel that we’re together and struggling together.”
Regina Milán Peralta, a second-year student at AAU, described the performance by Bad Bunny as both emotional and culturally significant.
“I think he really gives a voice to all Latin people, especially during this very weird and horrible political time,” Peralta said.
Bad Bunny concluded his set with the phrase “seguimos aquí,” translated to “we’re still here.”
“I feel like sometimes the rest of us get erased when people just refer to the US as America, so that moment really gave voice to all of us and felt very important,” Peralta said.
In case you missed it, the halftime show is available on official NFL platforms and Youtube.
