Bad Bunny breaks record as most watched Super Bowl halftime show in history

Bad Bunny has reportedly broken the record for the most-watched Super Bowl halftime show in history.

Bunny’s set was watched live by 135.4 million people around the world with the 31-year-old Puerto Rican rapper and singer headlining the special concert during the NFL showpiece on Monday as he embraced his Latin roots, amid criticism from US President Donald Trump and some right-wing commentators.

That’s just north of the 133.5 million viewers pulled in by Kendrick Lamar for last year’s halftime show.

In 2024, Usher was watched by 129.3 million, and the previous year Rihanna’s set had an audience of 121 million.

Meanwhile, Apple Music – which sponsored the performance – has revealed data showing how the halftime show has prompted a surge in people streaming Bad Bunny’s songs.

The playlist of his setlist became the most-played on the platform shortly after the show, while he landed 23 songs in the Apple Music Daily Top 100 Global chart, which included nine in the top 25 and five in the top 10, while DTMF rose to the top of the rankings.

Apple Music and Beats vice-president Oliver Schusser says in a statement they have had the pleasure of working with Bad Bunny since 2016, and watching him grow into this massive global superstar has been incredible and exciting, but not at all surprising.

He says his fans on Apple Music are very engaged and he thinks these numbers reflect his huge influence and impact on music culture.

Bad Bunny took to the stage at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, halfway through the Seattle Seahawks’ final against the New England Patriots and performed some of his biggest hits, including Tití Me Preguntó, Monaco and Baile inolvidable.

The artist, whose real name is Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, also welcomed guest performers such as Lady Gaga and Ricky Martin onto the stage during his set, which also featured cameos from the likes of Pedro Pascal, Cardi B, Karol G, and Jessica Alba.

Lady Gaga wrote on Instagram, it was her absolute honour to be a part of Benito’s halftime show.

She says thanked Benito for inviting her and thanked the entire cast for welcoming her on to your stage.

Gaga says she wouldn’t miss it for the world.

source : nz herald