The well-known influencer, Alexander Otaola, launched a scathing critique against Puerto Rican reggaeton artist Bad Bunny following his halftime show at the Super Bowl, which took place at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California.
During his morning show, El Mañanero, broadcast by Cubanos por el Mundo, Otaola did not hold back in his comments, branding the performance as a "visual disaster," a "ridiculous cliché," and, in his own words, "a horrendous mess" and "tacky."
Symbolism and Stage Design Under Fire
Right from the beginning of his critique, Otaola targeted the stage design, arguing that it was confusing and lacked aesthetic coherence.
"From the stands, you couldn't see anything. It was a chaotic mess, something between the grass, utterly ridiculous and horrible," he stated, referring to the setup that included vegetation elements, rustic structures, and nods to Puerto Rican rural life.
For Otaola, this approach was not only visually awkward but also offensive to Latino representation at one of the world's most watched television events.
"How do you bring a Latin cliché—the cane cutter, the worker—to an American event watched by an American audience? How tacky!" he questioned indignantly.
He continued, "It was like a jungle... how tacky, for God's sake."
Challenging Latino Stereotypes
One of Otaola's main points was his disconnection from the Latino image portrayed by the show.
"I am proudly Latino, but this doesn't represent me," he declared.
He criticized the show for perpetuating stereotypes that reduce Puerto Rican—and by extension, Latin—identity to images of sugarcane fields and rural poverty.
"Puerto Rico isn't just sugarcane. What is this? Latinos aren't only cane cutters," he asserted, clearly rejecting the symbolism employed by the Puerto Rican artist.
Otaola even mocked the positive message the show tried to convey: "He mocked the message that love is stronger than hate," claiming the overall tone of the presentation was absurd and poorly executed.
Political Messages and Their Appropriateness
Another aspect that angered Otaola was the inclusion of flags, references to Puerto Rico, and local issues such as the critical mention of LUMA Energy, the controversial company responsible for the island's electrical system.
"Why should I care about the flag? The Cuban flag is everywhere," he remarked sarcastically.
Otaola argued that using the Super Bowl stage for local political statements is inappropriate and counterproductive. In his words: "Making a statement about LUMA being a bad energy company during the American Super Bowl... for what purpose?"
He also found it unnecessary for ABC to explain the show's symbolism: "When you have to explain something, it's because it didn't work," he quipped.
Comparisons with International Performances
Otaola compared Bad Bunny's show to past performances by global stars like Madonna, Katy Perry, or Justin Timberlake.
"How did we go from grand productions visible from any seat to a 'bush' with no impact?" he questioned, highlighting the show's low technical and visual level.
He even referenced other Latin artists who have participated with questionable outcomes, such as Lady Gaga "trying to sing salsa" or Ricky Martin, who "missed a note."
"I can't feel happy about this... it can't all be so ridiculous. People can't have become idiots overnight," he lamented.
Understanding Alexander Otaola's Critique
Why did Alexander Otaola criticize Bad Bunny's Super Bowl performance?
Alexander Otaola criticized Bad Bunny's performance for its confusing stage design, perpetuation of Latino stereotypes, and inappropriate political messages.
What aspects of the performance did Otaola find offensive?
Otaola found the visual representation of Latinos as cane cutters offensive and criticized the inclusion of local political issues, which he deemed inappropriate for the Super Bowl stage.