All of the surprises during Bad Bunny’s Apple Music Super Bowl LX Halftime Show performance were also kept a secret from the many celebrities who joined him on the field.
Hospitality mogul David Grutman detailed what it was like to attend his longtime friend’s show at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday in an exclusive interview with Page Six.
“The vibe was great,” Grutman said by phone Monday.
“I’ve done a lot of great things in my life. This was obviously the best. This was insane. Just the energy and the whole thing.”
As Bad Bunny sang “Yo Pereo Sola,” Glatman was seen dancing in a casita with A-listers including Jessica Alba, Karol G, Pedro Pascal, Cardi B and Alix Earle.
Grutman, who co-owns Miami’s Gekko restaurant with Bad Bunny, said he had many “life-changing moments” with the hitmaker, including when he first got the call to headline the halftime show.
“That’s why he thought it was important for me to be in the mansion,” Grutman said. “He was really kind.”
Grutman also explained why Earl attended the performance, sharing that the TikTok star is “the face of Gen Z.”
“[Bad Bunny]wanted to be all-inclusive…especially when it came to Casita,” Grutman said. “He wanted to show a little bit of everything, and I think it’s great to have her be the face of Gen Z and so much of America.”
Grutman will co-produce Earle’s upcoming reality show with Netflix, Deadline reported earlier this week.
He also recalled Cardi’s energy moving and grooving to reggaeton music.
“Cardi was so happy,” Grutman exclaimed. “I mean, she’s amazing. What a great scene.”
The Miami restaurateur revealed that he and Casita’s other stars were asked to wear a specific color palette if possible, but otherwise had to choose their own outfits.
“They just said, ‘Ask me if it’s going to be light or gray, but if not, do whatever you want,'” Grutman recalled.
Glatman and the group were kept in complete secrecy about all the surprises that unfolded during the show, including performances by Lady Gaga and Ricky Martin and the actual wedding.
“I didn’t know anything about any of that stuff. He kept everything, every element, secret,” Grutman shared, noting that there were no rehearsals before the show.
“I had no idea who the performer was going to be. I just knew he was going to show that he loved America.”
The Groot Hospitality founder explained that Bad Bunny was deeply involved in the creation of the entire performance, which honors the Grammy Award-winning artist’s Puerto Rican heritage.
“He was definitely in charge of the whole thing,” Grutman said. “That’s his voice.”
Grutman said Bad Bunny’s parents were in the audience to watch their son perform an entire set in Spanish for the first time in halftime show history.
“I met his mom and dad before (the show), like the first time I came to the show,” Grutman said. “They’re very proud.”
“I don’t know what was going through their heads when their son came from this little village in Puerto Rico to where he is now,” Grutman continued. “We don’t know what the odds are that something like that will happen.”
As for how Bad Bunny was able to perform the perfect set after facing an onslaught of criticism over his nationality, Gurtman believes the rapper’s success is due to his unwavering self-belief.
“I think he has a lot of confidence that he can do it,” Glatman said. “Being with him and spending time with him, you realize that there are special people you meet in life and he is one of them.”
