If there is one thing to take away from Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, otherwise known as Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl LX performance, it is that “the only thing more powerful than hate is love.”
The phrase, which Ocasio originally shared at the 2026 Grammys, appeared again during his halftime show, projected across the jumbotron at Levi’s Stadium.
As the first solo Latino headliner, Ocasio gave a remarkable performance, displaying the rich Puerto Rican, American, and Latino culture and pride.
The performance was seen by over 128.2 million people, according to Nielsen.
The performance has since gained traction as a symbol of protest against the current U.S. administration and the growing wave of hatred toward the Latin community.
The hypocrisy of the situation is impossible to ignore.
People question Ocasio’s legitimacy as an American artist while simultaneously erasing the history of Puerto Rico’s colonization only to celebrate the island as a vacation destination, flocking to its beaches and resorts without acknowledging the people or the injustices they face.
What stands out most is that, in a world free from hate, discrimination and division, this performance would not be read as a protest at all.
Without the weight of today’s political climate, it could simply be seen as a celebration of culture, music, dance and joy shared on one of the world’s biggest stages.
Yet given the reality of the moment, Ocasio’s choices were intentional and powerful. Rather than waving flags with statements such as “Abolish ICE,” he waved the flags of every continental American country, bridging the divide between North and South America.
In doing so, he offered unity instead of confrontation, and that, arguably, was the strongest statement he could make.
In our view, this was the most impactful protest he could deliver to the current administration, or anyone else for that matter, who believes in what’s going on and sees nothing wrong with it.
It may sound cliché, but meeting hate with kindness is always the way to go, and remains one of the most radical acts of resistance.
Ocasio showcased this through dance, joy and laughter.
Notably, the performance was sung entirely in Spanish aside from Lady Gaga’s appearance on “Die With a Smile,” a choice that spoke volumes on its own.Altogether, his performance showcased unity, resilience, love and patience.
History is not lost on those willing to recognize it, and Ocasio brought that history to the forefront.
For example, the sugar cane field opening, which showed the historic and economic standing of the land, and the no electricity section, which we believe comments on the outdated/lack of systems provided to Puerto Rico from the United States.
The performance is a master class in silent protest. What better way to showcase that than by taking up space, almost the entire field, having all people of color, and most beautifully, doing so with a smile on his face.
Although the performance in the stadium officially ended after halftime, dancers and musicians carried on into the parking lot outside Levi’s Stadium, playing and dancing, continuing the unity shown in the performance.
The performance emerged as a powerful act of resistance expressed through art, offering a rare moment of unity in a deeply divided America truly living up to the statement displayed on the football Ocasio held throughout the performance “Together, we are America.”
