What You Didn’t See on TV at Bad Bunny’s Set

Just days before the Super Bowl game, the streets of San Francisco filled up with passionate football fans rocking their team’s jersey, but also many people blasting Bad Bunny’s music. The hotel lobby where the Billboard team was staying at, for example, had Bad Bunny music videos on loop at the bar every night leading up to the Super Bowl.

At the press conference held on Thursday, Feb. 5 — which became the most watched in Super Bowl history with more than 63 million views, according to stats provided to Billboard — the Puerto Rican artist got emotional when speaking about his mom after a young reporter with Big Brothers Big Sisters of America asked: “When you think about the person you were before everyone knew your name, who’s someone that always supported you and how did they impact your life?” 

“I would have to say my mom because before I became this, she believed in me,” he replied. “She believed in me as a person, as a human, in my decisions, in my opinion, in my taste, in my choices; and she believed that I could be a good person: smart guy, talented, and [chokes up] I think that’s what got me here. Not because she believed that I was a great artist, but she believed that I’m a great person and that’s better than anything else.”

Billboard was present at many invite-only Super Bowl parties throughout the week including the star-studded Michael Rubin’s Fanatics event, where many of the celebrities who walked the red carpet expressed their love and support for Bad Bunny’s halftime show. Ciara, Ty Dolla $ign, Diplo, Spike Lee, Jamie Foxx, J Balvin and Too $hort, among other big-name artists, shared similar sentiments and opinions about this year’s headliner, mostly speaking on the positive cultural impact his performance will make.   

Despite rumors that made the rounds on the Internet, ICE enforcement operations were not in sight at the stadium — but heavy security was present in every corner: local police, search and rescue dogs, and the national guard. Meanwhile, a large group of anti-ICE demonstrators peacefully marched outside the Levi’s Stadium, and even handed out “ICE OUT” towels to spectators entering the venue on Sunday.

A group of reporters and photographers gathered at section 133 of the stadium to watch the Halftime Show. Of course, a handful of Latino journos, including yours truly, enjoyed the 13-minute set to the fullest — chanting each lyric and dancing perreo from the media pit. Spectators around us, not so much: A few here and there would bop their head to the reggaetón beat, others would sway their hips to Lady Gaga’s salsa rendition of “Die with a Smile,” or pump their fist in the air to the sound of dembow, but for the most part, sports fans were just standing and watching the show, in either disbelief or admiration.

While some audience members opted not to dance — as Benito himself encouraged everyone to do—others formed a real party on the outskirts of the stadium. Following the halftime show, Los Pleneros de la Cresta, who collaborated with Bunny on “Café con Ron” and joined him for the grand finale, headed their way from the stadium to the talent tent playing music and singing — a huge crowd followed behind, dancing and chanting. 

“For us, being able to represent Puerto Ricans in such an important space is of immense value,” the group told Billboard at the game. “We are strengthening our identity through bomba and plena music to continue defending our beaches, our rivers, our education, and our healthcare. And being here on this stage, in this space, on behalf of all the people who are fighting for the people’s beaches today, being able to represent them and give our heart and soul is always of the utmost importance.” 

Watch the exclusive interview below: