At first glance, the Super Bowl halftime show seemed like pure glitz and glamour—music, lights, and energy exploding across the stadium.
But behind the dazzling spectacle, something unusual was happening. Thousands of eyes were on Bad Bunny, yet no one realized that some of the “props” weren’t props at all—they were real people, hidden in plain sight,
moving silently as part of the performance. Who were they? What did it feel like to be invisible in front of 135 million viewers? And just how much was someone paid to become a human bush for a few minutes of live television?
Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl LX halftime performance on February 8 was a vibrant celebration of Puerto Rican culture and creativity. The show featured dynamic choreography, memorable guest appearances from stars like Lady Gaga and Ricky Martin, and elaborate set pieces that brought the island’s life and spirit to the world stage. Yet one detail captured online attention: the “grass” scattered across the field wasn’t decoration—it was people.
Among them was Andrew Athias, nicknamed “The Reese’s Guy” on X, who flew from Philadelphia to join 499 other dancers. Each performer transformed into a living blade of grass, helping bring Bad Bunny’s Puerto Rican sugarcane set to life. Despite the elaborate costumes, the dancers were expected to remain perfectly still for hours, blending into the scenery like invisible extras in a living painting.
Performers faced strict requirements: 5’7” to 6’ tall, athletic builds to endure 50-pound costumes for up to five hours at a stretch. Andrew described his role simply: “They just told me where to stand. Don’t move. Be one with the grass.”
The hardest part, he said, was keeping the secret. NDAs forbade sharing the experience online for two weeks. “Seeing everyone speculate while knowing so much was torture,” he admitted.
Compensation, surprisingly, was modest—$18.70 per hour, including rehearsals and fittings. Still, Andrew said he would have taken the gig for free, just for the experience. José Villanueva, another “bush,” described the moment on the field as surreal: “I wanted to cry, but I had to hold it in.”
The 14-minute set was a whirlwind tour of Puerto Rican life, from bustling nail salons and lively domino games to a colorful rooftop wedding, with Lady Gaga delivering a salsa-infused rendition of Die With a Smile. Bad Bunny’s message of unity resonated across the Americas, and around 135.4 million viewers watched the spectacle unfold.
One viral moment involved a young boy receiving a Grammy Award on stage. Rumors initially suggested he was Liam Conejo Ramos, a 5-year-old previously detained by ICE. TMZ later confirmed he was Lincoln Fox Ramadan, a young actor. The gesture was meant to inspire children everywhere to dream big—perhaps as big as performing on the Super Bowl stage itself.
Conclusion
For most viewers, Bad Bunny’s halftime show was a dazzling musical celebration. For the dancers hidden in plain sight, it was a unique blend of endurance, secrecy, and performance art. From standing perfectly still for hours as human grass to keeping the experience under wraps, their silent dedication brought the set to life. Behind every spectacular performance lies untold effort and unseen stories—proof that even the smallest, quietest roles can leave the biggest impression.