All of the surprises throughout Bad Bunny’s Apple Music Super Bowl LX Halftime Show performance were kept a secret — even from the slew of celebrities who joined him on the field.
Hospitality mogul David Grutman detailed what it was like to be a part of his longtime friend’s show at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday in an exclusive interview with Page Six.
“Vibes were amazing,” Grutman told us over a phone call on Monday.
“I did a lot of cool things in my life. Obviously this was top. This was insane — just the energy and the whole thing.”
As Bad Bunny sang “Yo Perreo Sola,” Grutman was seen dancing in the casita alongside A-listers like Jessica Alba, Karol G, Pedro Pascal, Cardi B and Alix Earle.
Grutman, who co-owns Miami restaurant Gekko with Bad Bunny, shared that he was with the hitmaker for so many “life-changing moments” — including when he first got the call to headline the halftime show.
“So he thought it was important that I be in the casita,” Grutman said. “That was really sweet of him.”
Grutman also explained why Earle was included in the performance, sharing that the TikTok star is “the face of Gen Z.”
“[Bad Bunny] wanted to be inclusive of all…Especially for the casita,” Grutman said. “He wanted to show a little bit of everything. And I think having her be the face of Gen Z and so much of America, I just think it’s a great thing.”
Grutman is producing Earle’s upcoming reality TV show with Netflix, Deadline reported earlier this week.
He also recalled Cardi’s energy as they both moved and grooved to the reggaeton music.
“Cardi was so happy,” Grutman gushed. “I mean, she’s amazing. What a great scene.”
The Miami restaurateur revealed that he and the other stars in the casita were asked to wear a certain color palette if possible, but otherwise got to select their own outfits.
“They just said, ‘Listen, if it could be light or gray, but if not, do whatever you want to do,’” Grutman recalled.
Grutman and the group were kept completely in the dark about all of the surprises that unfolded throughout the show — including performances by Lady Gaga and Ricky Martin, as well as an actual wedding ceremony.
“I didn’t know about any of that stuff. He kept all of it, every element, a secret,” Grutman shared, noting that there was no rehearsal before the show.
“I had no idea who the performers were going to be. I just knew he was going to show that he loved America.”
The Groot Hospitality founder explained that Bad Bunny was extremely involved in the production of the entire performance, which celebrated the Grammy-winning artist’s Puerto Rican heritage.
“He was definitely in charge of the entire thing,” Grutman said. “It’s his voice.”
Grutman shared that Bad Bunny’s parents were both in the audience to watch their son become the first person in halftime show history to perform the whole set entirely in Spanish.
“I saw his mom and dad before [the show], like when I first got there,” Grutman said. “They’re just so proud.”
“I don’t know what goes through their heads when their son came from this small village in Puerto Rico to where he is now,” Grutman continued. “I don’t know what the odds on something like that happening are.”
As for how Bad Bunny was able to perform a flawless set after facing an onslaught of criticism over his nationality, Grutman believes the rapper’s success came down to his unwavering conviction.
“I think he just has so much confidence that he’s going to deliver,” Grutman said. “If you’re with him, when you spend time with him, you just know that like, there’s special people that you come across in your life, and he’s one of them.”
