Fishtown Man Performs as Plant in Bad Bunny's Super Bowl Halftime Show

Andrew Athias was one of 40,000 people who responded to an open casting call to be in the show.

Published on Feb. 9, 2026

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In a Super Bowl halftime show packed with stars, one man from Fishtown, Philadelphia stood out by standing still. Andrew Athias was cast as a plant beside Bad Bunny, and despite being told not to move, he couldn't help but dance along to the music. Athias was elated to be selected out of 40,000 people to be a part of the production, which he says was an incredible experience of bringing people together.

Why it matters

The Super Bowl halftime show is one of the most watched television events of the year, with millions of viewers tuning in to see the elaborate performances. For a local resident like Andrew Athias to be selected to participate, even in a small role as a prop, is a remarkable achievement and highlights the diverse talent that can be found in communities like Fishtown.

The details

Andrew Athias, a resident of the Fishtown neighborhood in Philadelphia, was cast as a plant in Bad Bunny's Super Bowl halftime show performance. Despite being instructed not to move, Athias couldn't help but dance along to the music when he saw himself on the big screen. Athias was selected out of 40,000 people who responded to an open casting call to be a part of the production, which he says was an incredible experience of bringing people together to celebrate Puerto Rican culture and music.

  • The Super Bowl halftime show aired live on February 14, 2026.

The players

Andrew Athias

A resident of the Fishtown neighborhood in Philadelphia who was cast as a plant in Bad Bunny's Super Bowl halftime show performance.

Bad Bunny

A Puerto Rican rapper and singer who headlined the Super Bowl halftime show in 2026.

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What they’re saying

“They told us, do not move...like, we're very stern about you are not to be known that you are a person.”

— Andrew Athias (6abc.com)

“But then, as I'm watching myself, I see myself in the corner, I'm like, there I am, dancing... when you listen to Bad Bunny's music, you just want to dance.”

— Andrew Athias (6abc.com)

“It's such an incredible... combination of feelings.”

— Andrew Athias (6abc.com)

“He was talking about how beautiful Puerto Rico is, but also how much tragedy is on that island, and it's just that experience of bringing so many different people together. To make this production, that's what it's all about at the end of the day.”

— Andrew Athias (6abc.com)

The takeaway

This story highlights the incredible opportunity that the Super Bowl halftime show presents for ordinary people to be a part of a global television event. For Andrew Athias, a resident of the Fishtown neighborhood in Philadelphia, being selected to perform as a plant in Bad Bunny's show was a once-in-a-lifetime experience that allowed him to be a part of something much bigger than himself.