Unhealthy Bunny on the Tremendous Bowl? Mucho más Feliz
In case you aren’t a Tremendous Bowl or reggaetón fan, you may not know that Unhealthy Bunny was chosen because the headliner for the upcoming Tremendous Bowl. That’s fascinating”, you say? Nicely, it’s greater than fascinating – it’s phenomenal, controversial, and actually sensible. Let me clarify.
First. Who is that this man with the humorous title?
Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio was born in Puerto Rico in 1994 right into a working-class household. He rose from a grocery clerk to turn into one of many world’s most streamed musicians. Recognized for infusing reggaetón, Latin entice, and politically charged lyrics, he’s a multi–Latin Grammy–profitable artist celebrated for pushing musical and gender boundaries. The stage title “Unhealthy Bunny” comes from a photograph of a bunny costume he wore to a college occasion with a scowling face named “unhealthy bunny”. Years later, when he started releasing music on-line, he posted that picture on social media and used “Unhealthy Bunny” as his username. The title caught.
Unhealthy Bunny’s choice as headliner for the 2026 Tremendous Bowl halftime present is a strategic transfer by the NFL to embrace the fastest-growing phase of its fan base: the Latin American viewers. The NFL, Apple Music, and Roc Nation collectively chosen Unhealthy Bunny to carry out at Levi’s Stadium on February 8, 2026, due to his skill to attach cultures and bridge audiences by music that transcends language obstacles.
The truth that he has surpassed 107 billion complete Spotify streams, his Instagram account (@badbunnypr) has round 48 million followers as of October 2025, and he has exceeded 115 million equal album gross sales worldwide by late 2025 didn’t damage.
The choice is a part of the NFL’s ongoing Por La Cultura outreach marketing campaign to Latino gamers, followers, and cultural heritage. Latin America now boasts over 183 million followers throughout 9 nations, notably Mexico and Brazil – greater than the estimated 150 to 180 million grownup followers within the US. The league has hosted video games in Mexico Metropolis and introduced additional video games in Spanish-speaking nations, together with in Mexico subsequent yr. Puerto Rico is symbolic of all that: the NFL estimates 950,000 to 1 million followers there, plus its shut cultural and territorial hyperlink with the US and world stars like Jennifer Lopez, Ivy Queen, and Kany García.
Latin America is the place the NFL’s development is. And music is one option to make it occur.
Unhealthy Bunny himself appeared conscious of that symbolism. In accepting the invitation, he stated, “It’s for my folks, my tradition, and our historical past,” dedicating the milestone to Latin audiences underrepresented on such an enormous stage.
After all, Unhealthy Bunny’s choice triggered criticism within the US. President Donald Trump known as the selection “completely ridiculous,” whereas others complained that Unhealthy Bunny “has no songs in English” and “shouldn’t be an American artist”. He does, with songs like “I Like It” with Cardi B and J Balvin, and he’s a pure born American citizen who speaks conversational English effectively sufficient for reside TV interviews.
My recommendation to the critics is to get out of the way in which earlier than the NFL’s entrance line and music followers run you over. Music is world; Latin music is the quickest rising music style on this planet immediately – together with within the USA, the place it accounted for $490 million in gross sales within the first six months of this yr (Taylor Swift, you had higher study Spanish and be a part of the KC Chiefs in the event that they play in Mexico Metropolis ). Everybody, give up carping and be a part of the tens of millions of “Los Conejos” cheering for Unhealthy Bunny. And dance extra, complain much less. You may be mucho más feliz.
Patrick O’Heffernan
Banner picture generated by Perplexity. Unhealthy Bunny has not (but) appeared at a Tremendous Bowl
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