The Ebro, Laura, Rosenberg Show

Episode 32: Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl Halftime Show: Reactions & Everything You Missed

Date: February 9, 2026
Hosts: Ebro, Laura Styles, Rosenberg

Overview

This lively “don’t call it a podcast” episode takes a deep dive into the Super Bowl weekend, centering on Bad Bunny’s much-anticipated halftime performance. The trio brings warmth, personal anecdotes, and incisive cultural commentary, touching on everything from behind-the-scenes access, Easter eggs in the performance, internet drama, and the pride and challenges of representation. Expect discussion on the intersection of music, sport, American identity, and community—all laced with humor and unfiltered opinions.

Main Themes

• Celebration and Cultural Significance of Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl Halftime Show
• The intersection of politics, music, and sports at America’s biggest entertainment event
• Internet and celebrity reactions—positive, negative, and petty
• Behind-the-scenes stories, community representation, and personal reflections
• Highlighting immigrant and Latinx storytelling and pride
• The importance (and challenges) of unity, inclusivity, and artistic message amid divisive public discourse

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Vibe Check: Super Bowl Aftermath & Kickoff (00:00–04:00)

• Ebro opens by contrasting the post-Super Bowl mood: “You got the people angry and the people feeling emo and happy and overjoyed. I think we should focus on the people feeling emo happy, happy and overjoyed, not the negative, racist white supremacist trying to insert themselves in the convo.” (00:16)
• Laura enjoyed a chill family night, focusing on the halftime show: “We just ate some food, watched it… loved every single moment of it.” (01:35)
• Discussion of massive city watch parties—“Benito Bowl”—and how for many, the game took a back seat to the cultural festivities.

2. The Game Versus the Main Event (Halftime) (04:00–06:15)

• Rosenberg jokes: “No one cared about that game. No one give a damn about that game.” (02:05)
• Ebro admits to enjoying the defensive football game, but it’s clear the hosts—and much of the audience—were focused on the performance.
• Name-drop moments: Ebro shares that while working at Apple’s event suite, he occasionally snagged celebrity seats vacated by Justin Bieber or Dave Grohl. (03:48–04:14)

3. Bad Bunny Halftime Show: Masterclass in Pride & Representation (05:13–06:54; 09:06–10:19)

• Rosenberg: “Benito’s celebration of Puerto Rican and Latin culture was the clapback. That was the move… show you the beauty of this music, this culture, these people, this island and this, honestly, this whole continent.” (05:47)
• Ebro highlights the full show’s diversity: “How diverse and inclusive and American, really, representing all walks of life. Can you be… It was dope.” (08:52)
• Laura congratulates Ebro on being chosen for Bad Bunny’s pre-game interview: “We were so proud of you.” (06:39)

4. Detailing the Halftime Show’s Symbolism and Easter Eggs (20:32–26:15; 33:00–35:00)

• The performance opens in a sugar cane field: “Those fields really represented all our ancestry as well as immigrants today.” (20:46)
• Bad Bunny honored real-life community locations:
  • Taco stand from LA
  • Tonitas in Williamsburg, a Brooklyn social club and community space (21:22–22:16)
  • Local braid shop; nods to his mother (jersey number 64) (33:00)
• Emotional resonance with diverse viewers in attendance: “People…culturally have no connection to this…were crying. No boo hoo crying.” (23:06)
• The power line workers: highlighting Puerto Rico’s recurring blackouts and government failures (23:28).

5. Cameos and Collaborative Choices: Gaga, Cardi B, Ricky Martin (16:30–18:32; 22:53–28:28)

• Lady Gaga’s role discussed; Gaga appeared a bit nervous but delivered: “She was overjoyed to be invited into this cultural moment.” (16:30–17:11)
• Debate on guest choices (e.g., should it have been Marc Anthony?):
  • “He chose Lady Gaga… show the naysayers–she’s down with us” – Ebro (17:58)
  • Inviting English-speaking artists: “Using someone who’s an English-speaking performer is extending an olive branch to maybe people to…find their way into it.” – Rosenberg (19:06)
• Cardi B’s appearance, Ricky Martin’s performance with historical ties to anti-corruption protests in Puerto Rico (26:28)

6. Internet Reactions, Trolls & Media Drama (10:42–15:19; 35:34–38:29; 51:11–53:14)

• The hosts mock right-wing alternative events and bogus viewership numbers: “5 million views were botted live because you can literally see the chat wasn’t even moving.” (15:13)
• Laura recounts her CNN spot and the chaos of live TV with her daughter crashing in (12:34–14:00):
  • “That’s a meme, by the way. We’re going to cut it.” - Ebro (13:50)
• Internet negativity and “Congratulations, You Played Yourself” for Jake Paul, Chris Brown, and others who attempted to insert themselves into the discourse or shade Bad Bunny (52:11).

7. Super Bowl Performances & Politico-Cultural Statements (07:06–08:52; 39:11–41:02)

• Ebro: “And one of the first performances you see is Green Day…basically saying, singing American Idiot, which is just straight…talking that. Ish. That we love.” (07:06)
• Hosts play clips of Green Day’s Billy Armstrong calling out ICE, Stephen Miller, and Trump at Super Bowl parties (39:11).
• Praise for how the show's diversity reflects “the most American thing you can have” (08:52).

8. Unity vs. Manufactured Division / Political Chatter (37:19–38:29; 46:04–48:44)

• Ebro and Rosenberg critique populist tactics: “He creates problems where there isn’t a problem because he can benefit…positioning himself as the problem solver.” (37:19)
• “This whole thing of dividing us and figuring out ways to be divisive is a psyop. Dismantling and destabilizing our society…creating a narrative that we’re at each other and we’re disagreeing when…we’re more alike than we are different. But the more we're together…the less they can make their money.” – Ebro (47:23)
• Discussion: Right wing has little creative/cultural capital; best artists stand on “right side of history.” (46:24)

9. Weather, Urban Gripe & New York Life (28:06–32:42)

• Long tangent on the relentless winter cold, difficulties with alternate side parking, uncollected trash and dirty streets.
• Compounded city complaints—defensive but affectionate about NYC hardships.

10. Advice Segment & Life Honesty (61:04–65:53)

• Reading a listener letter: A teacher contemplates switching careers despite good salary, debt, and uncertainty.
• Advice: Don’t leave a steady job without another in place. “Never get up from the table, never give up your seat until you got another one.” (65:53)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Benito’s celebration of Puerto Rican and Latin culture was the clapback.” — Rosenberg (05:47)
• “How more positive could that be, where you have freedom of speech, freedom of expression in all walks of life taking place at one event?” — Ebro (09:26)
• “We were so proud of you… Everyone at CNN… are fans of the show.” — Laura to Ebro (13:10)
• “The performance opens up in a sugar cane field. Everybody’s clear on why that’s important, right?” — Ebro (20:32)
• “The NFL booked Green Day and Bad Bunny.” — Ebro breaking down corporate dynamics and progress (44:20)
• “Generally speaking, right wing people are not creative or talented. The pool of who to get is basically non-existent.” — Rosenberg’s riff on culture wars (46:24)
• “Everything is people coming together. The food we love…hip hop was multitude of people” — Ebro, on the power of collaboration (48:11)
• “People…were boohoo crying, bro.” — Ebro, on the emotional resonance of Bad Bunny's performance (23:06)
• “[Chris Brown] could have just sat there, ate your wings, and zip it.” — Laura, on unnecessary shade (53:14)
• “If you have to take out a loan [for a wedding], congratulations, you played yourself.” — Ebro (62:31)
• “We ain’t spending rooftop, where, what? Catering, who? Huh?” — Ebro, on wedding costs (64:53)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Opening Vibe Check: 00:00–04:00
• Name-drops and inside Super Bowl access: 03:48–04:21
• Halftime as Cultural Showdown: 05:13–06:54
• Bad Bunny’s Celebration, Symbolism, Inclusion: 09:06–10:19; 20:32–30:00
• Emotional Reactions to Halftime: 23:06–23:28
• Easter Eggs & Deep Dives on Performance: 33:00–35:00
• Lady Gaga, Guest Messaging: 16:30–18:32
• Internet & Media Drama / Right-wing Alt-Event: 10:42–15:19; 35:34–38:29
• Green Day’s Political Statement: 39:11–41:02
• Listener Advice Segment: 61:04–66:10
• Laura’s CNN Story/Family Meme Moment: 12:34–14:00
• Chris Brown’s Halftime Comments: 51:11–53:14

Tone & Language

Warm, teasing, irreverent, occasionally combative but always rooted in real affection. The show balances hard-hitting cultural takes with laughter, pop culture references, and “inside-the-family” banter.

Final Thoughts

The episode intricately weaves together the personal, cultural, and political threads of Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl moment. The hosts offer not just recap but insight—decoding why the performance mattered, how it landed emotionally, and why representation on this stage means so much. In the background, there’s a persistent pitch for engagement (subscribe! like! join Patreon!) and a sense of building something new and communal together.

For anyone who missed the Super Bowl or the surrounding discourse, this rundown offers not just a play-by-play but the heart, spirit, and debate that made the moment singular.