Latin pop icon Ricky Martin has publicly voiced his support for fellow Puerto Rican star Bad Bunny ahead of the rapper’s headline performance at the Apple Music Super Bowl LX halftime show, set to air live this Sunday.
In an emotional message published in Spanish by Puerto Rican newspaper El Nuevo Día, Martin praised Bad Bunny for his recent Grammy success and cultural impact.
The 54-year-old singer described Bad Bunny as a “brother” and highlighted the significance of his achievements for Puerto Rico and the wider Spanish-speaking world.
“Seeing you win three Grammy Awards, including album of the year with a production entirely in Spanish, touched me deeply,” Martin wrote. “Not only as an artist, but as a Puerto Rican who has walked stages around the world carrying his language, his accent and his story.”
Martin emphasised that Bad Bunny’s success represents more than commercial triumph, calling it a “cultural and human victory.” He praised the reggaeton star for remaining true to his roots, adding that his journey sends a powerful message to younger generations that identity and authenticity should not be compromised for success.
Bad Bunny recently made headlines at the Grammy Awards after using his acceptance speech to speak in defence of immigrant communities. His remarks were widely shared online and sparked debate across social media and US media outlets. Martin described that moment as particularly moving, noting the silence in the audience as Bad Bunny spoke.
“When you defended the immigrant community and spoke about a system that persecutes and separates, you spoke from a place many of us know,” Martin wrote, referring to the shared experiences of migrants living between cultures and borders.
The two artists have collaborated before, notably performing together at the 2019 Latin Grammy Awards. In 2023, Martin also presented Bad Bunny with the GLAAD Vanguard Award, recognising his contribution to LGBTQ+ visibility and inclusion.
Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl halftime performance is being widely described as historic, as he becomes one of the few Latin artists to headline the global event solo. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has expressed hope that the performance will help “unite people” through music.