The artist filled the show with elements from his home country, spreading one main message: “The only thing more powerful than hate is love.”

More than 300 dancers took part in the spectacle, while Bad Bunny sang mashups of his biggest hits like ‘Tití Me Preguntó’, ‘EoO’, and songs from his most recent album DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS, which won Album of the Year at the Grammys just a week before.

He began the performance by walking through a sugar cane field surrounded by men and women cutting down the stalks, a reference to the central role that the crop played in the territory’s centuries-long colonisation. He was also handed a piragua (Puerto Rican shaved-ice dessert) from a traditional stand.

This was followed by other traditional Puerto Rican symbols and concluded with a flag march, which included the flags of all the countries in the Americas and gave his home a special shout-out at the end. Bad Bunny ended the show by holding out an American football with the words “Together, we are America” written on it.

In many previous halftime performances, artists had recited the classic patriotic song ‘God Bless America’, but I saw this as an extension of that gesture and a way of giving it a hopeful new meaning.

This is especially important given that the performance comes 80 years after the US government, which took over the Caribbean island by force at the end of the 19th century, made it illegal to fly a Puerto Rican flag. This, accompanied by the songs and cultural nods, created an environment celebrating pride, patriotism and progress – exactly what the Super Bowl is about.

Lady Gaga and Ricky Martin were among the special guests who shared the stage with Bad Bunny. Others, including Karol G, Cardi B and Pedro Pascal, also participated by being ‘extras’ in a house party-themed part of the show.

How this reflects US political tensions

Cooperation is what will bring peace and development everywhere. In light of the recent criticism of US immigration policy, there could not be a better time for a message like Bad Bunny’s.

However, we should not try to force popstars to attempt to make a change in politics, but demand development from governments instead. However, it can be seen from President Trump’s response to Bad Bunny’s show, calling it “absolutely terrible”, that this is not always easy.

I believe that instances where popstars are brave enough to make political statements through their art can not only serve as a moment of hope, but as an ignition of change. And, through his performance, Bad Bunny did exactly that.