As Puerto Rican recording star Bad Bunny headlined the first Super Bowl halftime show performed mainly in Spanish, the predominantly Latino crowd gathered at Bad Habits in Astoria danced, sang and, at times, wiped away tears.
For many, the performance was more than entertainment. It was a moment of visibility on one of the biggest stages in American culture.
“Honestly, I cried my eyes out,” said Priscila Huerta, an Astoria resident. “I’m Latina, so I think a lot about representation and what that means, especially at this tumultuous time politically.”
What You Need To Know
Bad Bunny headlined the first Super Bowl halftime show performed mainly in Spanish
Fans gathered at Bad Habits in Astoria, where a replica of the singer’s “La Casita” installation was on display
Many attendees said the performance represented a powerful moment of Latino visibility and unity
The bar’s owner called the milestone long-overdue recognition for Puerto Rico and the broader Latino community
Inside the bar, fans waved flags and belted out lyrics as the Grammy-winning artist delivered a set that celebrated Latin music and culture. Some said seeing Spanish-language music dominate the Super Bowl halftime stage — typically the most-watched broadcast of the year, drawing more than 100 million viewers annually — felt historic.
“Oh my gosh. It was incredible,” said Ronald Downs, an Astoria resident who was born in Nicaragua. “It was great to see he brought out some artists. As a Latino myself, Nicaraguan born, it was amazing to see all of us in unity. He represented every Latino country, and it was incredible to watch.”
The decor at Bad Habits reflected the significance of the night. Just outside the bar, management reinstalled a full replica of the singer’s “La Casita” installation — or “little house” — which debuted last year and drew fans from across the city. The display helped turn the Astoria venue into a mini pilgrimage site for supporters long before the Super Bowl spotlight.
“He brought all the sazón and all the corazón. He delivered,” said Lauren Downs, an Astoria resident. “I love him. I love everything he stands for.”
Yazmin Arciniegas, who traveled from Woodhaven for the watch party, called the performance unforgettable.
“That’s so amazing and he is the best singer in the world, and I love,” she said.
For Alexander Roldan, owner of Bad Habits, the moment carried personal and cultural weight. Seeing a Puerto Rican artist headline the halftime show as a solo act marked what he called long-overdue recognition.
“It means a lot. It means Puerto Rico finally getting recognized,” Roldan said. “It means somebody that made it from almost nothing being able to show America that we can still do it, even in an environment like this that we are going through right now, we can still be successful. We still got a chance at getting that American dream!”
As the final notes echoed through the bar, fans embraced, snapped photos in front of “La Casita” and lingered in the afterglow — proud to see their language, culture and stories take center stage.