Fans Compare Super Bowl Halftime 'Trees' to Ents from 'Lord of the Rings'

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

During Bad Bunny's high-energy Super Bowl halftime performance, several background set pieces that appeared to be trees were actually people in costume. This led to a flurry of jokes on social media, with many fans comparing the 'trees' to the sentient Ents from The Lord of the Rings. The creative use of costumed performers to quickly build an elaborate set was an impressive logistical feat, though it also provided plenty of fodder for fantasy-themed memes.

Why it matters

The Super Bowl halftime show is one of the most watched television events each year, and the creative use of costumed performers to construct the set in a short timeframe highlights the innovative production techniques required to pull off such a massive live event. The fan reaction also demonstrates how social media can amplify and spread humorous observations about surprising or unexpected moments during high-profile broadcasts.

The details

Several clips went viral after the Super Bowl halftime show, revealing that parts of the elaborate sugar plantation set, including what appeared to be trees, were actually people in costumes. This creative approach allowed the production team to quickly assemble an intricate backdrop for Bad Bunny's performance, rather than building a full physical set. Many fans drew comparisons between the 'trees' and the Ents, the sentient tree-like creatures from The Lord of the Rings, with some joking that the Ents had arrived to 'take down Isengard'.

• Bad Bunny's high-energy Super Bowl halftime performance took place on February 9, 2026.

What’s next

The creative use of costumed performers in the Super Bowl halftime show is likely to inspire future live event productions to explore similar innovative approaches to quickly building elaborate sets.