Dangerous Bunny on the Tremendous Bowl? Mucho más Feliz
In case you aren’t a Tremendous Bowl or reggaetón fan, you may not know that Dangerous Bunny was chosen because the headliner for the upcoming Tremendous Bowl. That’s fascinating”, you say? Effectively, it’s greater than fascinating – it’s phenomenal, controversial, and actually good. 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. Identified for infusing reggaetón, Latin lure, and politically charged lyrics, he’s a multi–Latin Grammy–successful artist celebrated for pushing musical and gender boundaries. The stage title “Dangerous Bunny” comes from a photograph of a bunny costume he wore to a faculty occasion with a scowling face named “dangerous bunny”. Years later, when he started releasing music on-line, he posted that picture on social media and used “Dangerous Bunny” as his username. The title caught.
Dangerous Bunny’s choice as headliner for the 2026 Tremendous Bowl halftime present is a strategic transfer by the NFL to embrace the fastest-growing section of its fan base: the Latin American viewers. The NFL, Apple Music, and Roc Nation collectively chosen Dangerous Bunny to carry out at Levi’s Stadium on February 8, 2026, due to his capability to attach cultures and bridge audiences by way of music that transcends language boundaries.
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 harm.
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 USA 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 approach to make it occur.
Dangerous 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 a large stage.
After all, Dangerous Bunny’s choice triggered criticism within the US. President Donald Trump referred to as the selection “completely ridiculous,” whereas others complained that Dangerous Bunny “has no songs in English” and “isn’t 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 properly sufficient for dwell TV interviews.
My recommendation to the critics is to get out of the best way 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 the earth right now – 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, stop carping and be a part of the tens of millions of “Los Conejos” cheering for Dangerous Bunny. And dance extra, complain much less. You may be mucho más feliz.
Patrick O’Heffernan
Banner picture generated by Perplexity. Dangerous Bunny has not (but) appeared at a Tremendous Bowl
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