Andrew Athias, a Philadelphia digital marketer, had a unique experience as one of the performers in Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl halftime show. He was among the individuals dressed as bushels of grass, creating the sugarcane field setting for the Puerto Rican pop star’s spectacular performance. Athias shared that despite the discomfort of grass getting into unexpected places like his nose and ears, the experience was surprisingly comfortable due to the well-padded costume.
Athias humorously recounted how he landed the role, joking that Bad Bunny called him personally in the middle of the night to offer him the grass role, when in reality, he participated in an open casting call with vague requirements. He only discovered he would be portraying grass upon arriving for rehearsals. Despite facing challenges like a snowstorm delaying his travel to California for rehearsals, Athias was thrilled to be part of the halftime show.
During rehearsals, the secrecy around the performance was stringent, and Athias found himself stationed next to the pink house where various celebrities emerged during the show. Despite earning California minimum wage for his efforts, the compensation did not fully cover his expenses. However, Athias expressed no regrets, emphasizing his enjoyment of the brief fame and the opportunity to be part of such a significant moment in representing Bad Bunny’s dream of showcasing Puerto Rico to a global audience.