In brief
Bad Bunny, the Puerto Rican superstar known for his chart-topping hits, will headline the Super Bowl halftime show in February 2025. The musician, who has expressed concerns about performing in the U.S. due to ICE raids, aims to celebrate his heritage during this prestigious event. His mix of Spanish and English messages highlight the cultural significance and responsibility he feels as an artist, making it not just a performance but a tribute to his roots.
Puerto Rican pop star Bad Bunny will headline next year's Super Bowl halftime show in California.
The singer and rapper, who has topped Spotify's most-streamed artist list in three of the past five years, will squeeze his hits into less than 15 minutes on US TV's most-watched night in February.
In a football-themed statement, he said: What I'm feeling goes beyond myself. It's for those who came before me and ran countless yards so I could come in and score a touchdown. This is for my people, my culture, and our history.
It comes after the star recently said in an interview with i-D magazine he is avoiding the US on his current world tour out of concerns that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents might conduct raids on fans at his concerts.
He will now make a trip to the US for Super Bowl night in Santa Clara on 8 February.
He will follow in the footsteps of other recent halftime performers including Kendrick Lamar, Usher, Rihanna and The Weeknd.
Lamar was the musical attraction at this year's Super Bowl, which was watched by a record 127 million viewers in the US.
Switching into his native Spanish, Bad Bunny - whose real name is Benito Antonio Martinez Ocasio - added in his statement: Ve y dile a tu abuela, que seremos el halftime show del Super Bowl - which roughly translates as: Go tell your grandma we're going to be the Super Bowl halftime show.
Jay-Z, whose Roc Nation company chooses the halftime performer and produces their show, said what Bad Bunny has done and continues to do for Puerto Rico is truly inspiring.
In 2022, Bad Bunny's album Un Verano Sin Ti (A Summer Without You) became the first all-Spanish language album to reach number one in the US.
The 31-year-old was the third most-streamed artist in the world last year, behind Taylor Swift and The Weeknd.
He has won three Grammy Awards, and earlier this month was revealed as the leading nominee at this year's Latin Grammy Awards.
Bad Bunny is also an actor, having appeared in films like Bullet Train and the recent Happy Gilmore 2. He will return to host Saturday Night Live for a second time next month.
