Highlights from Super Bowl: Star Performances and Controversial Moments

Tue Feb 10 2026 00:40:18 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

The Super Bowl captivatingly showcased Latino music icon Bad Bunny, alongside fellow stars in a performance that drew both applause and critique. The halftime show sparked a discussion on culture and expectations, with celebrities appearing and ads making bold statements.

Bad Bunny headlined the Super Bowl halftime show, supported by stars such as Lady Gaga and Cardi B in a vibrant celebration of Puerto Rican culture. However, US President Donald Trump criticized the performance, calling it 'terrible.' Meanwhile, an alternative halftime show was staged by a conservative group, featuring Kid Rock among others. The event also showcased high-stakes advertisements, including Serena Williams promoting a weight loss drug, prompting mixed reactions among viewers.

Highlights from Super Bowl: Star Performances and Controversial Moments

Latin megastar Bad Bunny performed a medley of his top hits at the Super Bowl on Sunday in a star-studded show that was criticized as terrible by US President Donald Trump. The Puerto Rican singer, also known as Benito Antonio Martinez Ocasio, was joined on stage by a host of fellow music stars including Lady Gaga, Ricky Martin, and Cardi B.

Sitting in the stands, Kim Kardashian and Lewis Hamilton made their first major public appearance together after weeks of speculation about their romance. The seven-time Formula 1 world champion and the reality TV star were spotted chatting and smiling together during the game, and were caught on video by NBC News.

Lady Gaga, Ricky Martin, and Cardi B joined Bad Bunny on stage

Fellow musical superstars Lady Gaga, Cardi B, and Jessica Alba joined the dancers on stage alongside Bad Bunny, who was the world's most-played artist in 2025 on Spotify. Chilean-American actor Pedro Pascal and Puerto Rican singer Ricky Martin also joined the performance, which was populated by a largely pan-American crowd of celebrities.

Lady Gaga, whose real name is Stefani Germanotta, sang a salsa version of her hit Die With A Smile, and later posted on Instagram that it was an absolute honour to be a part of the show. She expressed, I wouldn't miss it for the world. Martin also thanked Bad Bunny on social media after the show, saying he needed several hours to process and understand the tsunami of emotions I'm feeling. Thank you.

Described by Variety Magazine as joyous, elaborate, unapologetic, the performance featured symbols of Puerto Rico and was mainly sung in Spanish. The set included a traditional casita structure, block party salsa dancing, and mock sugarcane fields, with Bad Bunny crashing through the roof at one point during the show, which even featured a wedding ceremony on stage.

Trump criticized the halftime show as anti-American

In contrast, US President Donald Trump, who did not attend this year's Super Bowl after appearing in the stands last year, called Bad Bunny's set absolutely terrible, one of the worst, EVER! He criticized the performance on his social media platform Truth Social, labeling it an affront to the Greatness of America and stated, nobody understands a word this guy is saying.

On social media, responses varied, with California Governor Gavin Newsom praising Bad Bunny's performance as a representation of America, the beautiful. The event also saw conservative group Turning Point USA organizing an alternative halftime show featuring Kid Rock and others, as a protest against the NFL's choice of Bad Bunny.

AI companies fight it out in Super Bowl ads and Serena Williams promotes weight loss jab

The Super Bowl is known for its high-profile advertising moments, and this year saw tennis champion Serena Williams promoting a weight loss drug during the event, sparking disappointment among some fans. Other notable ads included AI company Anthropic and Alexa commercials, showcasing a competitive landscape within the AI sector.