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Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl Halftime Draws 128.2 Million U.S. Viewers as Instagram Vanishes and Political Blowback Builds

A Spanish‑language set heavy on Puerto Rican imagery with surprise cameos turned the show into a cultural flashpoint.

Overview

  • Nielsen reports 128.2 million U.S. viewers for the halftime show, placing it fourth all time behind Kendrick Lamar, Michael Jackson and Usher.
  • The performance unfolded on a plantation‑style set with dozens of dancers and featured surprise turns by Lady Gaga and Ricky Martin.
  • Bad Bunny performed predominantly in Spanish and closed with on‑screen messaging, including “The only thing more powerful than hate is love,” plus a salute to Puerto Rico and countries across the Americas.
  • Hours after the show, he deleted all Instagram posts and unfollowed every account, with no official explanation from the artist.
  • Some outlets touted an estimated global audience around 135 million, though official worldwide figures have not yet been released, as debate intensified after sharp criticism from President Donald Trump.