Puerto Rican reggaeton star Bad Bunny set tongues wagging with his groundbreaking Super Bowl LX halftime show performance entirely in Spanish, making history as the first artist to achieve this feat. The show was a visually striking and musically entrancing spectacle that celebrated unity across the Americas, with a large billboard above the stage proclaiming "The only thing more powerful than hate is love." Despite its positive message, the performance attracted controversy both during and after the show.
Critics of the NFL's choice to feature Bad Bunny as the halftime performer were vocal, with some even going so far as to organize an alternate halftime show that saw significantly lower viewership numbers compared to the Puerto Rican artist's set. Add to this mix an AI-generated image that falsely depicts Bad Bunny burning an American flag while donning a colorful dress, and the narrative around the show becomes even more sensationalized.
The viral image, which shows Bad Bunny in a flag-burning scenario, was quickly debunked as a right-wing hoax. This photo, which circulated widely on social media platforms like Facebook and X, was proven to be digitally altered and misleading. In actuality, Bad Bunny was seen during the halftime show carrying the Puerto Rican flag, a symbol of his heritage and cultural pride.
As is often the case with high-profile figures, Bad Bunny has been the target of misinformation and false claims, especially in light of his outspoken stance on political issues. After the show, US President Donald Trump lambasted Bad Bunny's performance on his platform Truth Social, further fueling the controversy surrounding the Super Bowl halftime show.
Amid the swirl of misinformation, fact-checkers have diligently worked to dispel the deceptive claims surrounding Bad Bunny post-Super Bowl. One such claim suggested that Bad Bunny refused to stand for the US national anthem, a video of which went viral with over a million views. However, it was revealed that this incident occurred months prior at a baseball game and was not related to the Super Bowl performance.
Another viral claim falsely depicted Bad Bunny burning a US flag while wearing a dress featuring the colors of the transgender pride flag. This image, although persuasive at first glance, was proven to be digitally manipulated, with several indicators pointing to its inauthenticity. Bad Bunny, a vocal supporter of the LGBTQ+ community, has often made statements through his fashion choices and music, but the viral image was purely a fabrication.
Additionally, a misleading claim suggested that the child Bad Bunny handed his Grammy to during the halftime show was Liam Conejo Ramos, a young boy arrested by ICE agents in Minneapolis. However, this claim was also debunked, revealing that the child in question was a 5-year-old actor named Lincoln Fox, not Liam Conejo Ramos. The confusion stemmed from the emotional nature of Liam's story and his similar age to the child actor in the Super Bowl show.
Despite the misinformation and controversy swirling around Bad Bunny post-Super Bowl, his performance stands as a testament to his cultural impact and musical artistry. The halftime show not only showcased Bad Bunny's talent but also highlighted his roots and identity as a proud Puerto Rican artist. As fact-checkers continue to debunk false claims and set the record straight, it's clear that the legacy of Bad Bunny's historic Super Bowl performance will endure beyond the noise of sensationalized misinformation.
