As bad Bunny prepares to take the stage at Sunday’s Super bowl, a unique phenomenon is unfolding: a surge in Spanish language learning among fans eager to understand the Puerto rican superstar’s entirely Spanish-language performance. The artist’s decision, first hinted at during his October hosting gig on Saturday Night Live, has sparked both excitement and debate, reflecting the growing cultural influence of Latin music and a broader conversation about depiction. The upcoming performance arrives after Bad Bunny‘s recent Grammy win for Debí Tirar Más Fotos-the first Spanish-language album to claim the honor-and amid ongoing political scrutiny regarding immigration and Latino communities.
Fans are hitting the books – and language apps – ahead of Sunday’s Super Bowl halftime show, spurred by the news that Bad Bunny plans to perform entirely in Spanish.
The Puerto Rican superstar, born Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, first hinted at his linguistic approach back in October while hosting Saturday Night Live. After delivering a monologue in Spanish, he playfully challenged viewers: “If you didn’t understand what I just said, you have four months to learn!”
That comment ignited a wave of online enthusiasm, but also drew criticism from some conservative circles who have previously targeted the artist for his outspoken views on immigration. Last year, Bad Bunny canceled the U.S. leg of his world tour, citing fears that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) could target his fans at concerts.
Now, social media is buzzing with activity as people dissect Bad Bunny’s lyrics, with Puerto Rican fans offering explanations of slang and non-Spanish speakers documenting their language-learning journeys. The anticipation surrounding his Super Bowl performance reached a new peak last weekend when his album Debí Tirar Más Fotos became the first Spanish-language album to win the Grammy for Album of the Year.
At the Grammys, Bad Bunny didn’t shy away from addressing the issue of federal immigration operations. After winning Best Música Urbana Album, he declared in English, “Before I say thanks to God, I’m going to say ICE out. We’re not savage, we’re not animals, we’re not aliens. We are humans and we are Americans.”
‘Like a form of protest’
For 29-year-old Niklaus Miller, the challenge began after Bad Bunny’s SNL appearance. He’s been diligently studying the lyrics ever since.
“I am delusional enough to be like ‘this would be easy. I could pick it up pretty quickly,’” Miller admitted.
This surge in language learning underscores the growing influence of Latino culture in the U.S., even amidst ongoing political debate. The artist’s decision to perform in Spanish at the Super Bowl is a significant moment for representation in mainstream entertainment.
“It felt like a form of protest,” Miller said. “What can I do right now besides what everyone is doing that is trying to help? It just feels good.”
Miller has even found that his videos are resonating with others. He’s received messages from people watching with their parents, who say they feel seen and appreciated.
While he hasn’t mastered Bad Bunny’s entire discography, Miller has focused on learning portions of six songs he anticipates will be featured in the halftime show, including “Tití Me Preguntó,” “DtMF,” and “Baile Inolvidable.”
O’Neil Thomas, a 28-year-old actor and content creator from New York City, started learning the singer’s catalog the day after Bad Bunny was announced as the halftime performer.
“I was just so excited because he wasn’t an artist that I expected,” Thomas said. “And given how we are right now with the state of the country I think he is the perfect person to headline such a humongous stage.”
Thomas’s TikTok videos, showcasing his progress with tracks like “NUEVAYoL,” have been met with overwhelmingly positive feedback. Many Puerto Rican viewers have reached out to express their pride in seeing someone outside the community embracing their culture.
Latin culture intensifies interest in Spanish
“People were already starting to make the effort with learning Spanish as a result of their interest in Latin music,” explained Vanessa Díaz, associate professor of Chicano and Latino studies at Loyola Marymount University. “The Super Bowl itself is an additional push for a trend that was already happening.”
Díaz, co-author of P FKN R: How Bad Bunny Became the Global Voice of Puerto Rican Resistance, noted that the rise of Latin music over the past decade has naturally led more non-Spanish speakers to learn the language. Bad Bunny’s direct messaging in his lyrics, videos, and performances further amplifies that interest.
According to U.S. census data, Spanish is the most spoken language at home in the U.S. after English – except in three states, and is spoken by more than 13% of residents age five and older.
However, Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl booking hasn’t been without controversy. Donald Trump called the selection “ridiculous,” and some conservatives have labeled it anti-American – despite the fact that native-born Puerto Ricans are U.S. citizens. Turning Point USA is even hosting an alternative “All-American Halftime Show” headlined by Kid Rock.
This all unfolds against a backdrop of increased scrutiny and targeting of Latinos and Spanish-speaking communities under Trump’s immigration policies. His executive actions have broadened deportation eligibility, and routine hearings have become potential deportation traps for migrants.
Díaz doesn’t believe the performance will fundamentally change perceptions of Latinos in the U.S., but she anticipates it will spark an important conversation about “how people are going to grapple with the magnitude of having someone like Bad Bunny on the stage.”
At a time when “the US is targeting Latinos and migrants and Spanish speakers or even those who are just perceived to be any of those things in a way that we haven’t seen in our lifetimes”, his visibility is powerful, Diaz said.
For Thomas, Bad Bunny’s music provided the perfect impetus to finally tackle learning a new language.
“I love Spanish and I always wanted to learn it,” Thomas said. “So, this has been a fun introduction for me to finally hone in.”
Both Miller and Thomas agreed that learning Spanish, and specifically Puerto Rican Spanish, in a short timeframe has been a unique challenge.
Thomas explained that casually listening to Bad Bunny’s music is a very different experience than trying to decipher the lyrics.
“Listening to his music is really fun,” Thomas said. “The amount of times I’ve pressed rewind just to get a phrase, I can’t even count.”
Miller noted that the Puerto Rican dialect often drops syllables and is delivered at a rapid pace. He added that if he doesn’t actively revisit a song, he can quickly forget the pronunciation and struggle to pick it up again.
“It’s fun but then stressful because I am a type-A person, so that’s been hard, honestly,” Miller said. “I’m firing on all cylinders.”
