At a press conference on Thursday, the 31-year-old hinted that his performance would be more about unity and healing than spreading division.
“I know that the world is gonna be happy at this Sunday, and they’re gonna have fun, and they’re gonna dance and they’re gonna have a good time,” he said.
At the Grammy Awards last week, where he walked away with the ceremony’s biggest prize, he was more direct. Before thanking his producers and label, he took the mic and declared “ICE out” – a reference to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers who have led large operations detaining immigrants in cities across the US.
Trump was elected in part due to his promise to curb illegal immigration, and the White House says its policies are aimed at protecting the public by deporting those here illegally who have criminal records. Those operations have come under scrutiny, including recently after federal agents killed two American citizens in separate incidents in Minneapolis.
“We’re not savage. We’re not animals. We’re not aliens. We are humans and we are Americans,” Bad Bunny said onstage in English.
Eddie Miranda, a Puerto Rican DJ in the Chicago area, tells the BBC that seeing Bad Bunny – who was born Born Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio – headline on Sunday will feel deeply personal.
”Puerto Rico is part of the United States, and not a lot of people know that,” Miranda said. “To have a piece of America that’s been ignored for so long on the stage is just extraordinary.”
Miranda said seeing Bad Bunny – who in 2016 worked as a grocery store cashier – represent Puerto Rico, an American territory, with pride, love, and authenticity “means everything”.
Whether at a quinceañera – a sweet-16 birthday party – or a club, Miranda says the moment the first Bad Bunny beat drops, the energy in the room comes alive. That’s why, Miranda believes, the NFL chose him “to be that pioneer”.
”With the hard times we’re dealing with, when it comes to ICE and deportation, he’ll be a leader for the whole Latino community,” he said. ”He will speak on those matters somehow, either through symbolism or him saying something directly”.