When Bad Bunny was selected in September as the headliner for the Super Bowl LX halftime show, it was immediately clear that his impact would span far beyond the music. For many fans, this performance was a crucial representation of Puerto Rican culture and an opportunity for unity.
On Thursday, Feb. 5, a student and faculty panel was held at the Learning Commons exploring the cultural significance of selecting Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, professionally known as Bad Bunny, as the halftime performer. The event explored how the Super Bowl as a global sports platform can amplify cultural, social and political messages.
This iconic slot in primetime TV continued its trend of hosting internationally recognized talent. Recently, Bad Bunny received three new Grammy Awards in addition to three past wins and 17 Latin Grammys. He has been recognized globally as the No. 1 artist on Spotify in 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2025.
Hosted by Sports Management student Sebastián Pérez Jiménez, the panel members included Chris Gagne, Chair of the Department of Visual and Performing Arts, as well as Leila Reily, Assistant Professor of Sport Management, and students Noah Schuessler and Brandon Bulerin. The panel discussed how this selection resonates both globally and locally, as more than a third of the city of Springfield’s population identifies as Puerto Rican.
Bulerin, a student-athlete on the football team, shared how he is able to learn and expand his knowledge on important topics through art and music.
“Music brings awareness to issues I didn’t even know about. Seeing someone from our culture in that position means a lot,” Bulerin said.
Schuessler added how Bad Bunny’s work is relatable to many fans because of the message it shares and how it makes the listeners feel.
“Music is about emotion,” Schuessler said. “Art is supposed to make people uncomfortable. It reaches people who might not normally engage with politics.”
The discussion also focused on the NFL’s evolving role as a business and cultural institution. Since Roc Nation, founded by Jay-Z, took charge of the halftime show in 2019, the league has made more clear efforts towards speaking out about social justice issues. Part of that effort includes featuring the Black national anthem before the game and selecting performers with strong cultural significance.
The halftime show has also featured the first two hip hop and rap performances in the past five years. Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre headlined in 2022, while Kendrick Lamar hosted last years’ edition in New Orleans.
In addition to the panelists’ perspectives, audience members were invited to engage with the questions and share their personal experiences. These important conversations reinforced the idea that the halftime show was not just entertainment, but a moment of mutual understanding and connection.
According to ESPN, the performance was the fourth most streamed halftime show in Super Bowl history, racking up over 128 million views, only trailing Lamar, Michael Jackson and Usher.
The ultimate takeaway? To unite people with love. The message Bad Bunny shared during his performance read: “The only thing more powerful than hate is love.”
As the Super Bowl continues to be one of the biggest televised events annually, Bad Bunny’s halftime show, dubbed “Benito Bowl” by fans, demonstrated how music and sport can intersect to reflect broader social change.