Puerto Rican superstar Bad Bunny made history at this year’s Super Bowl halftime show by becoming the first artist to perform an entire set in Spanish. His powerful performance focused on themes of unity across the Americas, highlighted by a prominent billboard reading: “The only thing more powerful than hate is love.” This groundbreaking moment was not only a cultural milestone but also an opportunity for Bad Bunny to use his platform to spread a message of positivity.
However, in the wake of this historic performance, disinformation regarding Bad Bunny circulated widely on social media. A fact-check conducted by DW examined several viral claims about the artist that arose following the Super Bowl.
One claim asserted that Bad Bunny refused to stand for the national anthem. A viral post shared on X (formerly Twitter) showed a video of Bad Bunny sitting in a stadium, implying he was not participating while others sang the anthem. However, DW’s investigation found this claim to be false; the footage was not from the Super Bowl, nor did it depict people singing the national anthem. Instead, it came from an October 7 event when Bad Bunny attended a New York Yankees game where, despite sitting amidst others standing, they were singing “God Bless America,” not the “Star-Spangled Banner.”
Another misleading claim involved a fabricated image of Bad Bunny burning an American flag while wearing a dress inspired by the transgender pride flag. This image, which garnered significant attention, was proven to be fake, generated by AI. Bad Bunny is known for his support of the LGBTQ+ community and often explores gender-fluid fashion, but the image in question does not reflect reality.
Additionally, a post circulated claiming that a young boy who received Bad Bunny’s Grammy trophy during the Super Bowl was Liam Conejo Ramos, a child recently involved in a well-publicized ICE operation. This too was false. The child who appeared with Bad Bunny was actually Lincoln Fox, a 5-year-old child actor, not the boy linked to the ICE case. Lincoln has confirmed his involvement through his social media and is recognized as a child model, reaffirming that misidentifying him as Liam was unfounded.
Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl performance not only showcased his talent but also highlighted the challenges of navigating misinformation in the digital age. As a prominent figure using his influence to advocate for social issues, he continues to resonate with fans while reminding the public of the importance of verifying facts amidst the noise of viral claims.