Fact Check: Was Bad Bunny’s performance the most-watched halftime show in Super Bowl history?
SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA: Bad Bunny on Sunday, February 8, became the first Latino solo artist to headline the Super Bowl halftime show. He delivered an energetic performance during the matchup between the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks.
Following the show, a rumor circulated on X claiming that Bad Bunny’s halftime show was the most-watched halftime show in Super Bowl history. But is there any truth to this? Let us find out below.
Claim: Bad Bunny’s show was the most-watched halftime act in Super Bowl history
An X account @DemocraticWins came up with a post claiming, "BREAKING: Bad Bunny’s halftime show was the most-watched halftime show in Super Bowl history. MAGA is going to have a tough time swallowing that."
The post garnered more than 780,000 views within hours of going viral. A Bad Bunny fan account also posted, "Bad Bunny officially has the most-watched Super Bowl Halftime Show in history, with more than 135.4 MILLION viewers."
Similarly, another X user posted, "A historic moment and record 139 million viewers watched Bad Bunny's halftime show. The most in Super Bowl history. In a moment when families are being ripped apart by ICE and the building of detention centers for children."
Fact Check: Unverified, official ratings yet to be published
The claims made in the online posts cannot yet be declared 'official' or a confirmed record, as the official Nielsen ratings are typically released 1-3 days after the event and have not been published as of now at the time of filing this story.
Moreover, early reports from media outlets and industry insiders indicate the halftime show drew around 135.4 million viewers, which would surpass the previous record if verified.
Interestingly, Super Bowl LIX holds the confirmed high with 127.7 million viewers, as per Nielsen data. The pre-game projections for Super Bowl LX are estimated at an overall viewership of around 127-130 million.
If the preliminary 135.4 million holds in official data, it would be a new record. However, as of now, the numbers aren't verified. The show's cultural resonance likely contributed to a strong turnout regardless.
