Viewers of the historic Bad BunnySuper BowlLX halftime show did not have to wait long to understand the tone of the performance. From his opening lines at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, it was clear the set would be delivered almost entirely in Spanish, though some fans were left hanging onto their seats, waiting for at least one English song to come up.
Across social media and television commentary, the question quickly followed: does Bad Bunny speak English at all, and if he does, why did he choose not to use it on one of the biggest broadcast platforms in the world?
The short answer is that he can speak English. The longer answer is that language, for Bad Bunny, has always been part of his artistic position rather than a technical limitation.
During the Apple Music halftime show, Bad Bunny delivered a set dominated by Spanish-language tracks, even with English-speaking guests appearing alongside him.Lady Gagaperformed a Latin remix ofDie With a Smile, but Bad Bunny himself remained in Spanish throughout most of the performance.
Hisonly clear English phrasearrived near the end of the set, duringCafé Con Ron, when he paused and said: 'God bless America.' He then moved into a roll call of Latin American countries, namingMexico, Puerto Rico, Colombia,Venezuela, the Dominican Republic,Cubaand others, before ending with 'USA', 'Canada' and 'Puerto Rico'.
The sequence was widely discussed online and in the days that followed. Some viewers saw it as a political statement. Others interpreted it as a cultural affirmation. Either way, the language choice was central to how the show was received.
This was not an isolated decision. In the run-up to the Super Bowl, Bad Bunny had already addressed questions about language at a press conference, saying:
'English is not my first language. But it's okay, it's not America's first language either.'
Bad Bunny, whose real name is Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, has consistentlyspoken abouthis preference for working in Spanish.
In a 2023 interview withVanity Fair, he said he had no intention of switching languages for commercial reasons.
Source: International Business Times UK
