Bad Bunny's halftime show celebrated cultural diversity, but like many superstar spectacles, it quickly set off heated conversations online.
Global music star Bad Bunny used his Super Bowl LX halftime performance on Sunday, February 8, to deliver a message centered on hope. A brief scene featuring a young boy during the set soon spread across social media, with viewers debating the child's identity and the deeper meaning behind the gesture.
A Tender Super Bowl Moment
A widely shared scene that quickly spread online showed the Puerto Rican star stepping into a staged living-room setting at Levi Stadium. He then handed a Grammy award to a young boy, a move that struck an emotional chord with many viewers.
Netizens soon began debating the moment's significance. At the same time, curiosity grew around who the child was.
Fans Race to Decode the Meaning Behind the Mysterious Child
One admirer penned a heartfelt praise, "I couldn't love and respect Bad Bunny more." "How can ANYONE with a soul hate that?" someone else asked. Another viewer sounded certain they had cracked the mystery, writing, "Many of you may have missed this, but the little boy who [sic] Bad Bunny handed his Grammy to at the Super Bowl was Liam Ramos! Amazing!"
Another person chimed in, "OMG!!! The little boy who [sic] Bad Bunny handed his Grammy to at the Super Bowl was Liam Ramos!!!" Not everyone was convinced, with one skeptical voice saying, "Not sure it [sic] that is true. Really doesn't look like him."
A different commenter insisted, "It is a child actor…. Share truth." Someone else questioned the claim altogether, "This was proven to be false, I thought?" Another netizen asked what many were wondering, "Is this true?"
One fan introduced a more symbolic interpretation, "It's not Liam. It's himself when he was a kid.'" An insightful take followed close behind, "Yall gotta chill lol he's dressed in the same outfit as baby bad bunny he gave the grammy to his younger self [sic]." More fans agreed with this idea, "It's actually an actor portraying Bad Bunny as a child. 🥺"
One detailed theory painted a full scene, "Here's Bad Bunny as a kid, same outfit. That's why he gave the motivational speech to the kids listening on the other side of the TV, to believe in themselves like he did. The scene: he gave the grammy to his younger version that was watching a Grammy show through a tv set [sic]."
Immigration Heartbreak Connected to the Super Bowl Moment
Some fans had speculated that Bad Bunny gave the Grammy to Liam Ramos, the five-year-old who was recently detained by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Minnesota along with his father.
The child, a preschooler, and his father were taken into custody while in their driveway and transported to a detention center in Texas, according to school officials. The family had entered the country legally while seeking asylum. The boy was released, and the case is still ongoing.
The Boy on Stage Was Not Who the Internet Thought
In reality, the child seen during Bad Bunny's halftime show was not Ramos. One fan pointed out, "FYI: The little boy in Bad Bunny's halftime show wasn't Liam Ramos, it was a child actor: Lincoln Fox."
The identity of the child seen in the scene was confirmed by his talent agency. The exchange between Bad Bunny and Fox on the Super Bowl stage was intended to send a message that anyone can chase their goals and aspirations, a source said.
Fox later posted a clip of the scene on his own Instagram account, writing, "I'll remember this day forever! @badbunnypr - it was my truest honor 🐰🏆🏈." Details shared on Fox's Instagram page indicate that the young actor is half Argentinian.
A Halftime Spectacle Steeped in Heritage, Pride, and Cultural Power
Bad Bunny, whose real name is Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, took the stage Sunday night with a high-energy performance featuring many of his biggest hits. The show included striking visuals and theatrical references to songs and symbols from across his Spanish-language catalog.
Hence, his halftime set is expected to be remembered for highlighting cultural diversity. The global music star brought elements of his Puerto Rican heritage to the stage, and big-name stars such as Lady Gaga and Ricky Martin also made surprise appearances.
Praise Turns to Fury as Trump Unleashes a Blistering Public Attack
Many viewers cherished and praised the performance, but not everyone enjoyed it. President Donald Trump, who had previously criticized Bad Bunny as a poor choice for the halftime show, skipped the Super Bowl and attended a watch party in Florida instead.
On Truth Social, he criticized the halftime show, calling it completely terrible and one of the worst ever. Trump claimed it insulted American greatness and fell short of the country's standards for success, creativity, and excellence.
He added, "Nobody understands a word this guy is saying, and the dancing is disgusting, especially for young children that are watching from throughout the U.S.A., and all over the World. This 'Show' is just a 'slap in the face' to our Country, which is setting new standards and records every single day — including the Best Stock Market and 401(k)s in History!"
Trump also criticized the halftime show for lacking inspiration and suggested that any praise would come only from the "Fake News Media," which he claimed were out of touch with reality.
Bad Bunny Delivered a Message Bigger than Borders
Unlike Trump, who focused only on the US in his Truth Social post, Bad Bunny used his halftime performance to send a message of unity. He expanded the phrase "God bless America" to include all countries across the Americas, from Chile to Canada.
The singer mentioned more than 20 countries across North and South America and showcased the flags of many of them. He stood alongside both the US flag and the Puerto Rican flag, representing the US territory. A message written on a football also appeared during the show, reading, "Together we are America."
Historic Grammy Win and Brave Political Message
One of the most-streamed artists globally, Bad Bunny took the stage just a week after making Grammys history, winning album of the year for "Debí Tirar Más Fotos" ("I Should Have Taken More Photos") — the first Spanish-language album to receive the Recording Academy's top honor.
During the Grammy ceremony, he used his acceptance speech to voice a pointed political protest against recent actions by ICE amid Trump's nationwide immigration crackdown.
Bad Bunny said, "Before I say thanks to God, I'm gonna say: ICE out!" He continued, "We're not savage, we're not animals, we're not aliens. We are humans, and we are Americans."
Through both his Grammy speech and Super Bowl performance, Bad Bunny remained consistent in promoting unity and inclusivity. He stuck to his message regardless of potential backlash from powerful figures in the US government.
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