Human performers behind viral bushes revealed from Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl halftime show

Super Bowl viewers learned sugarcane bushes surrounding Bad Bunny were performers, paid hourly

Several of the most talked-about figures from Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl LX halftime performance never appeared on camera, as they were concealed inside full-body costumes designed to resemble sugarcane grass spread across the field.

According to NBC News, the halftime show, held Sunday in Santa Clara, California, transformed the stadium into a symbolic representation of Puerto Rico, Bad Bunny’s homeland. Hidden within the field design were hundreds of paid performers dressed as bushes, a detail that quickly became a viral talking point after viewers learned real people were inside the costumes.

Following the performance, numerous participants disclosed their involvement online, sharing photos, videos and personal accounts once nondisclosure agreements expired. Among them was José Villanueva, a longtime Bad Bunny fan, who said he was paid $18.70 per hour to perform in the production and described the experience as overwhelming.

Villanueva told NBC News that being on the field during the Super Bowl offered a perspective unlike watching from the stands or on television, adding that the emotional weight of the moment was difficult to contain.

A casting call from live events staffing agency Backlit described the role as non-dancing, instead involving structured movement and blocking within the larger production. The tentative schedule included multiple rehearsals over two weeks, culminating in a final rehearsal lasting up to 14 hours. Applicants were required to wear and move in costumes weighing up to 40 pounds and were advised the materials could include natural fibers.

Villanueva said the cast initially speculated about their roles, ranging from animals to other scenery, before discovering they would portray trees or bushes. Due to his placement on the field, he said he was required to practice longer in the heavy costume, which he estimated initially weighed up to 60 pounds.

He noted that the weight and limited visibility led to significant challenges during early rehearsals, with some performers reportedly leaving the production due to physical strain, panic attacks and discomfort. According to Villanueva, feedback from performers prompted organizers to reduce the costume weight after the first few practices.

Because visibility inside the costumes was limited, performers could see only straight ahead and often collided with one another during rehearsals. Safety goggles were worn to protect their eyes from the costume materials.

Roc Nation, Jay-Z’s entertainment company that produces the Super Bowl halftime show, did not immediately respond to requests for comment, NBC News reported.

Another performer, Andrew Athias, told Business Insider that he traveled across the country at his own expense to participate. He described his role as simple, saying he was instructed to stand still and blend into the field.

During the performance, Bad Bunny moved through the sugarcane set while incorporating scenes reflecting Puerto Rican culture, including a piraguas cart, domino games, dancing and a staged boxing match. Guest appearances included Lady Gaga, who performed a salsa rendition of “Die With a Smile,” and Ricky Martin, who sang Bad Bunny’s “Lo Que Le Pasó a Hawaii.”

The show also featured broader symbolism addressing issues such as power outages in Puerto Rico and included a real wedding ceremony performed live onstage. Bad Bunny made history as the first Spanish-language Latin solo artist to headline the Super Bowl halftime show.

Villanueva said he sang along throughout the performance, later joking that he may have been louder than the artist himself.