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VEGA BAJA, Puerto Rico, Feb 6 (Reuters) – In the small coastal Puerto Rican town of Vega Baja, the global megastar who is about to command the world's biggest stage on Sunday is still just known as "Benito." Bad Bunny – whose given name is Benito Antonio Martinez Ocasio – will make history when he headlines the Super Bowl LX halftime show in Santa Clara, California, bringing Spanish language and reggaeton rhythms to the annual American football spectacle. In Vega Baja, where street art depicting the superstar dots the landscape, locals remember the quiet kid who bagged groceries and served as an altar boy. At the Santisima Trinidad church in the Almirante Sur neighborhood, minister Jorge Rodriguez recalls young Benito attending mass with his mother. "He always came with his mom. For a while he served as an altar boy," Rodriguez said. "He was always very quiet, and he was always attentive to everything going on, with this drive to do things well and make them nice." At Juan Quirindongo Morell high school, janitor Nidia Vazquez remembers a responsible student. "He liked to write a lot. I think that even back then he was already writing to become what he is now," she said. After graduating in 2012, Bad Bunny worked at the local Econo Plaza supermarket, starting as a bagger before becoming a cashier. Four years later, he shot to international fame, going on to sell over 100 million records worldwide. Yet he hasn't forgotten home. Indeed, his latest, Grammy-winning, album is called "Debí Tirar Más Fotos" (I should have taken more photos) and is a celebration of his roots. Community leader and personal friend Edwin Marrero Santiago, sporting a "Mi barrio se levanta" (My neighborhood rises up) shirt, described Bad Bunny's charitable work, including rebuilding houses after Hurricane Maria. "For a kid from here in the neighborhood, raised here in this same community where I grew up… to see him succeed today on a worldwide level is without a doubt a pride," Marrero Santiago said. The community leader beamed about Bad Bunny's commitment to performing in Spanish at the Super Bowl. "That he truly carries the flag for our language, and not just Spanish, but the distinctive Spanish that we Puerto Ricans have… I am sure it is going to be something spectacular." (Reporting by Ricardo Ortiz, Paul Vieira, and Andrea Rodriguez. Writing by Angelica Medina; Editing by Rosalba O'Brien)

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By Danielle Broadway LOS ANGELES, Feb 6 (Reuters) – American rapper Lil Jon said on Friday that his son, Nathan Smith, has died, the record producer confirmed in a joint statement with Smith’s mother.   "I am extremely heartbroken for the tragic loss of our son, Nathan Smith. His mother (Nicole Smith) and I are devastated,” the statement said. Lil Jon described his son as an “amazingly talented young man” who was a music producer, artist, engineer, and a New York University graduate.  “Thank you for all of the prayers and support in trying to locate him over the last several days. Thank you to the entire Milton police department involved,” the “Snap Yo Fingers” rapper added.  A missing persons report was filed on Tuesday for Smith in Milton, Georgia, authorities said in a post on the Milton government website.  Police officials added that a broader search for Smith, also known by the stage name DJ Young Slade, led divers from the Cherokee County Fire Department to recover a body from a pond near his home on Friday. "The individual is believed to be Nathan Smith, pending official confirmation by the Fulton County Medical Examiner’s Office,” the post continued.  While no foul play is suspected, the Milton Police Department Criminal Investigations Division will be investigating the events surrounding Smith’s death.  Lil Jon is a Grammy‑winning rapper known for a string of chart‑topping hits and collaborations, including “Get Low,” “Turn Down for What” and “Shots.”  (Reporting by Danielle BroadwayEditing by Rod Nickel)

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By Keith Weir, Elvira Pollina and Julien Pretot MILAN/CORTINA D'AMPEZZO, Italy, Feb 6 (Reuters) – Italy launched the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics on Friday with a slick and colourful ceremony that celebrated the country's history, arts and fashion but where global political tensions surfaced in the crowd reaction. Italian President Sergio Mattarella formally declared the Games open at the main event in Milan's San Siro stadium as part of an unprecedented show that also linked to celebrations in co-host Cortina d'Ampezzo, more than 400 km (250 miles) away in the Dolomites. U.S. Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio were among the crowd in the iconic soccer stadium for the performance entitled "Armonia" (Harmony) that lasted three and a half hours. Vance, who has been strongly critical of Europe, drew jeers in the stadium when an image of him waving the U.S. flag appeared on a big screen. The announcement of the Israeli team prompted some booing in Milan over the loud soundtrack, but there were cheers in Cortina. Israel has a team of 10 in Italy. The group of five athletes from Ukraine in Milan drew huge cheers. TWIN CAULDRONS LIT IN MILAN AND CORTINA International Olympic Committee President Kirsty Coventry said the Games should bring people together. "Let these Games be a celebration of what unites us – of everything that makes us human." "This is the magic of the Olympic Games: inspiring us all to be the best that we can be – together," she added. For the first time, two Olympic cauldrons, one of the symbols of the Games, were lit simultaneously and will burn throughout – one at Milan's Arco della Pace (Peace Arch) and the other in Cortina's Piazza Dibona. Alberto Tomba and Deborah Compagnoni, two of Italy's most successful Alpine skiers who both won three Olympic gold medals, lit the cauldron at the 19th century Milan monument. Sofia Goggia, one of Italy’s top medal hopes for these Games, did the honours in Cortina. She became the first Italian woman to win an Olympic downhill gold at the 2018 edition. MARIAH CAREY GOT THE PARTY STARTED U.S. pop diva Mariah Carey had got the party started in a unique opening ceremony combining elements from the co-hosts, seeking to reflect both city and mountain life. Carey performed the 1950s Italian song "Nel blu, dipinto di blu" ("In the blue, painted in blue") with its famous "Volare" ("To fly") refrain to cheers in the stadium. Mattarella had been introduced to the fans via a recorded video clip in which the 84-year-old was seen travelling through the city on one of Milan's historic trams. The show also included a tribute to the late Italian fashion designer Giorgio Armani, who made Milan his base and died last September. The ceremony celebrated the diversity of Italian life, from fashionable Milan to the smaller mountain towns in the Alps that host the outdoor events at the Games, which run until February 22. Athletes also paraded in the mountain venues of Livigno and Predazzo, in a Games spread over 22,000 square kilometres. INITIAL CONFUSION IN CORTINA There was some initial confusion over access in Cortina. Loredana Vido, from Padova, owner of a second home in Cortina, was blocked at the start of Corso Italia, the town's main street, and said: “We were not told that everything would be closed off. We were told it was free entry.” But some competitors in Cortina were pleased to get a slice of the action without having to trek to Milan, and they mixed with one another after their parades.  "Do I wish I was at the full one? Kind of. Am I happy I don't have to spend 10 hours on a bus that day? Yes," said Austin Florian, part of the U.S. skeleton team. In the outdoor event in Livigno, at the foot of the snowboard and freeski runs, a thin crowd of locals and tourists gathered to watch the main ceremony in Milan on screens, as athletes in the small Alpine town walked in the snow, in sync with delegations at the San Siro. PROTESTS IN MILAN A series of protests took place on Friday, with more planned over the weekend, in the Italian financial capital to oppose the presence of analysts from a department that falls under U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Italy's government has said the controversy is unfounded, with ICE personnel not on the streets during the Olympics and only operatives from its Homeland Security Investigations in Italy working out of U.S. diplomatic missions. The U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee has also said no agents from ICE were providing security for Team USA. More local issues such as the closure of schools and streets in the city have also irked some Milanese. (Additonal reporting by Giselda Vagnoni in Milan and Mitch Phillips in Cortina;Writing by Keith Weir; Editing by Hugh Lawson, Toby Davis and Alison Williams)

(The article has been published through a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has been published verbatim. Liability lies with original publisher.)

By Keith Weir, Elvira Pollina and Julien Pretot MILAN/CORTINA D'AMPEZZO, Italy, Feb 6 (Reuters) – Italian President Sergio Mattarella officially opened the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics on Friday during a colourful ceremony that celebrated his country's history, arts and fashion but where political tensions surfaced. Mattarella, 84, spoke at the main event in Milan's San Siro stadium as part of an unprecedented show that also linked to celebrations in co-host Cortina d'Ampezzo, more than 400 km (250 miles) away in the Dolomites. U.S. Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio were among the crowd in the iconic soccer stadium and political controversies were evident in some of the crowd reactions. Vance drew jeers in the stadium when an image of him waving the U.S. flag appeared on a big screen. The announcement of the Israeli team prompted some booing in Milan over the loud soundtrack, but there were cheers in Cortina d'Ampezzo, the Games co-host that was part of a unique joint opening ceremony. Israel has a team of 10 in Italy. The group of five athletes from Ukraine in Milan drew huge cheers. CALL FOR UNITY International Olympic Committee President Kirsty Coventry said the Games should bring people together. "Let these Games be a celebration of what unites us – of everything that makes us human." "This is the magic of the Olympic Games: inspiring us all to be the best that we can be – together," she added. U.S. pop diva Mariah Carey had got the party started in a unique opening ceremony combining elements from the co-hosts, seeking to reflect both city and mountain life. Carey performed the 1950s Italian song "Nel blu, dipinto di blu" ("In the blue, painted in blue") with its famous "Volare" ("To fly") refrain to cheers in the stadium. CEREMONY SPREAD ACROSS VENUES Mattarella was earlier introduced to the fans via a recorded video clip in which the 84-year-old was seen travelling through the city on one of Milan's historic trams.  The opening stages also included a tribute to the late Italian fashion designer Giorgio Armani, who made Milan his base and died last September. Cortina played a supporting role in the celebrations in a spectacle entitled "Armonia" (Harmony) designed for a huge global audience on television and online. Athletes also paraded in the mountain venues of Livigno and Predazzo, in a Games spread over 22,000 square kilometres. The ceremony celebrated the diversity of Italian life, from fashionable Milan to the smaller mountain towns in the Alps that host the outdoor events at the Games, which run until February 22. There was some initial confusion over access in Cortina. Loredana Vido, from Padova, owner of a second home in Cortina, was blocked at the start of Corso Italia, the town's main street, and said: “We were not told that everything would be closed off. We were told it was free entry.” But some in Cortina were pleased to get a slice of the action without having to trek to Milan and back. "Do I wish I was at the full one? Kind of. Am I happy I don't have to spend 10 hours on a bus that day? Yes," said Austin Florian, part of the U.S. skeleton team. In the outdoor event in Livigno, at the foot of the snowboard and freeski runs, a thin crowd of locals and tourists gathered to watch the main ceremony in Milan on screens, as athletes in the small Alpine town walked in the snow, in sync with delegations at the San Siro. TWO CAULDRONS TO BURN For the first time, two Olympic cauldrons, one of the symbols of the Games, will be lit simultaneously and burn throughout – one at Milan's Arco della Pace (Peace Arch) and the other in Cortina's Piazza Dibona. Alberto Tomba and Deborah Compagnoni, two of Italy's most successful Alpine skiers, have been tipped to have the honour of lighting the Olympic cauldrons, but the names of those involved and the format have not been disclosed. A series of protests took place on Friday, with more planned over the weekend, in the Italian financial capital to oppose the presence of analysts from a department that falls under U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). More local issues such as the closure of schools and streets in the city have also irked some Milanese. Milan enjoyed a sunny afternoon and the mood outside the stadium was festive as crowds built up. David Arwood, 59, from Washington, D.C., was attending his fifth opening ceremony and did not expect political controversies to spoil the party. "The Olympics always reflect what's going on in the world," said Arwood, who was wearing novelty glasses featuring the five Olympic rings. "But I think once the Games start, people tend to forget most of that stuff. It's controversial beforehand, but once the ceremony starts, once the athletes come in I think everybody has a good camaraderie," he added. ($1 = 0.8462 euros) (Additonal reporting by Giselda Vagnoni in Milan and Mitch Phillips in Cortina;Writing by Keith Weir; Editing by Hugh Lawson, Toby Davis and Alison Williams)

(The article has been published through a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has been published verbatim. Liability lies with original publisher.)

By Keith Weir, Elvira Pollina and Julien Pretot MILAN/CORTINA D'AMPEZZO, Italy, Feb 6 (Reuters) – U.S. pop diva Mariah Carey helped to get the party started on Friday as the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics staged a unique opening ceremony combining elements from the co-hosts, seeking to reflect both city and mountain life. Carey performed the 1950s Italian song "Nel blu, dipinto di blu" ("In the blue, painted in blue") with its famous "Volare" ("To fly") refrain to cheers in Milan's San Siro stadium. U.S. Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio were among the crowd in the iconic soccer stadium. Vance drew jeers in the stadium when an image of him waving the U.S. flag appeared on a big screen. The announcement of the Israeli team prompted some booing in Milan over the loud soundtrack, but there were cheers in Cortina d'Ampezzo, the Games co-host that was part of a unique joint opening ceremony. Israel has a team of 10 in Italy. The group of five athletes from Ukraine in Milan drew huge cheers. CEREMONY SPREAD ACROSS VENUES Italian President Sergio Mattarella was introduced to the fans via a recorded video clip in which the 84-year-old was seen travelling through the city on one of Milan's historic trams.  The opening stages also included a tribute to the late Italian fashion designer Giorgio Armani, who made Milan his base and died last September. Cortina played a supporting role in the celebrations, from more than 400 km (250 miles) away in the mountains, in a spectacle entitled "Armonia" (Harmony) expected to draw a huge global audience on television and online. Athletes were also parading in the mountain venues of Livigno and Predazzo, in a Games spread over 22,000 square kilometres. The ceremony celebrated the diversity of Italian life, from fashionable Milan to the smaller mountain towns in the Alps that host the outdoor events at the Games, which run until February 22. There was some initial confusion over access in Cortina. Loredana Vido, from Padova, owner of a second home in Cortina, was blocked at the start of Corso Italia, the town's main street, and said: “We were not told that everything would be closed off. We were told it was free entry.” But some in Cortina were pleased to get a slice of the action without having to trek to Milan and back. "Do I wish I was at the full one? Kind of. Am I happy I don't have to spend 10 hours on a bus that day? Yes," said Austin Florian, part of the U.S. skeleton team. In the outdoor event in Livigno, at the foot of the snowboard and freeski runs, a thin crowd of locals and tourists gathered to watch the main ceremony in Milan on screens, as athletes in the small Alpine town walked in the snow, in sync with delegations at the San Siro. TWO CAULDRONS TO BURN For the first time, two Olympic cauldrons, one of the symbols of the Games, will be lit simultaneously and burn throughout – one at Milan's Arco della Pace (Peace Arch) and the other in Cortina's Piazza Dibona. Alberto Tomba and Deborah Compagnoni, two of Italy's most successful Alpine skiers, have been tipped to have the honour of lighting the Olympic cauldrons, but the names of those involved and the format have not been disclosed. A series of protests took place on Friday, with more planned over the weekend, in the Italian financial capital to oppose the presence of analysts from a department that falls under U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). More local issues such as the closure of schools and streets in the city have also irked some Milanese. Milan enjoyed a sunny afternoon and the mood outside the stadium was festive as crowds built up. David Arwood, 59, from Washington, D.C., was attending his fifth opening ceremony and did not expect political controversies to spoil the party. "The Olympics always reflect what's going on in the world," said Arwood, who was wearing novelty glasses featuring the five Olympic rings. "But I think once the Games start, people tend to forget most of that stuff. It's controversial beforehand, but once the ceremony starts, once the athletes come in I think everybody has a good camaraderie," he added. ($1 = 0.8462 euros) (Additonal reporting by Giselda Vagnoni in Milan and Mitch Phillips in CortinaWriting by Keith Weir; Editing by Hugh Lawson, Toby Davis and Alison Williams)

(The article has been published through a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has been published verbatim. Liability lies with original publisher.)

By Danielle Broadway LOS ANGELES, Feb 6 (Reuters) – Rona Bondurant did not want to sit at home watching the opening ceremony of the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan; she wanted to share the experience with a friend, celebrating the unity of the global Games together. “I wanted to see the Parade of Nations. It just makes me feel good to think that the world is united somehow. It's important,” she told Reuters inside the Westfield Century City AMC theater in Los Angeles. Going to the AMC screening for the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics inspired Bondurant to appreciate the sense of community that comes with watching the global event with a group. NBCUniversal and AMC Theatres signed a deal to bring live coverage of the 2026 Milano Cortina Games to over 150 AMC locations across the U.S., the two companies said in a January press release. AMC will be screening a variety of live daytime events from the February 6 to 22 Olympics, including figure skating, skiing and snowboarding. NBC and AMC also partnered for the 2024 Paris Games but for the 2026 Winter Olympics both companies have become more ambitious, hoping to turn the televised international sports extravaganza into a social event. For Yaffa Javedanfar, it did just that, as she arrived for the opening ceremony at the AMC theater with Bondurant to see the kickoff in theaters for the very first time. “I’ve never watched it on screen. This is a new experience,” she said. “It reminds me of my childhood. I used to watch every second of everything with my family, and this is a good nostalgia,” she added. Milano Cortina Olympics coverage will be primarily available on the NBC broadcast network and the streaming platform Peacock. (Reporting by Danielle Broadway; Editing by Ken Ferris)

(The article has been published through a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has been published verbatim. Liability lies with original publisher.)

By Keith Weir, Elvira Pollina and Julien Pretot MILAN/CORTINA D'AMPEZZO, Italy, Feb 6 (Reuters) – U.S. pop diva Mariah Carey helped to get the party started on Friday as the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics staged a unique opening ceremony combining elements from the co-hosts, seeking to reflect both city and mountain life. Carey performed the 1950s Italian song "Nel blu, dipinto di blu" ("In the blue, painted in blue") with its famous "Volare" ("To fly") refrain to cheers in Milan's San Siro stadium. U.S. Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio were among the crowd in the iconic soccer stadium. Italian President Sergio Mattarella was introduced to the fans via a recorded video clip in which the 84-year-old was seen travelling through the city on one of Milan's historic trams.  The opening stages also included a tribute to the late Italian fashion designer Giorgio Armani, who made Milan his base and died last September. CEREMONY SPREAD ACROSS VENUES Co-host Cortina d'Ampezzo had its own supporting role in the celebrations from more than 400 km (250 miles) away in the mountains, in a spectacle entitled "Armonia" (Harmony) expected to draw a huge global audience on television and online. There was some confusion over access in Cortina. Loredana Vido, from Padova, owner of a second home in Cortina, was blocked at the start of Corso Italia, the town's main street, and said: “We were not told that everything would be closed off. We were told it was free entry.” Athletes were also parading in the mountain venues of Livigno and Predazzo, in a Games spread over 22,000 square kilometres. The ceremony is celebrating the diversity of Italian life, from fashionable Milan to the smaller mountain towns in the Alps that host the outdoor events at the Games, which run until February 22. Some in Cortina were pleased to get a slice of the action without having to trek to Milan and back. "Do I wish I was at the full one? Kind of. Am I happy I don't have to spend 10 hours on a bus that day? Yes," said Austin Florian, part of the U.S. skeleton team. For the first time, two Olympic cauldrons, one of the symbols of the Games, will be lit simultaneously and burn throughout – one at Milan's Arco della Pace (Peace Arch) and the other in Cortina's Piazza Dibona. Alberto Tomba and Deborah Compagnoni, two of Italy's most successful Alpine skiers, have been tipped to have the honour of lighting the Olympic cauldrons, but the names of those involved and the format have not been disclosed. PROTESTS IN MILAN A series of protests took place on Friday, with more planned over the weekend, in the Italian financial capital to oppose the presence of analysts from a department that falls under U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). More local issues such as the closure of schools and streets in the city have also irked some Milanese. Milan enjoyed a sunny afternoon and the mood outside the stadium was festive as crowds built up. David Arwood, 59, from Washington, D.C., was attending his fifth opening ceremony and did not expect political controversies to spoil the party. "The Olympics always reflect what's going on in the world," said Arwood, who was wearing novelty glasses featuring the five Olympic rings. "But I think once the Games start, people tend to forget most of that stuff. It's controversial beforehand, but once the ceremony starts, once the athletes come in I think everybody has a good camaraderie," he added. ($1 = 0.8462 euros) (Additonal reporting by Giselda Vagnoni in Milan and Mitch Phillips in CortinaWriting by Keith Weir; Editing by Hugh Lawson, Toby Davis and Alison Williams)

(The article has been published through a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has been published verbatim. Liability lies with original publisher.)

Feb 6 (Reuters) – Timothy Busfield, the U.S. actor and director known for his role in "The West Wing," was indicted by a New Mexico grand jury on charges of child sex abuse, the prosecutor's office in Albuquerque announced on Friday. Busfield surrendered to authorities on January 13 after Bernalillo County District Attorney Sam Bregman filed a criminal complaint accusing the actor of abusing twin boys over two years of production of the Fox crime drama "The Cleaning Lady," when the boys were seven or eight years old. The boys are now 11. The 68-year-old actor, in a video recorded before he surrendered, said the charges against him were "lies," and that he would be exonerated. A judge ordered Busfield to be released from jail about a week later, ruling there was insufficient evidence for pre-trial detention. Busfield could not immediately be reached for comment. His defense lawyer, Christopher Dodd, did not respond to queries. Allowing prosecutors to proceed to a trial, a grand jury voted to indict Busfield on Thursday on four counts of criminal sexual contact of a child, a third-degree felony in New Mexico. The indictment was not yet public on Friday morning, but the district attorney's original criminal complaint said Busfield abused the twin boys while filming "The Cleaning Lady" in Albuquerque, the state's biggest city. Busfield was an executive producer of the show, and also the director of some episodes. Busfield is famous for his prime-time television roles as a White House reporter on the NBC political drama "The West Wing," which ran from 1999 to 2006, and as an advertising agency executive on the 1980s ABC ensemble series "Thirtysomething."  He is married to Melissa Gilbert, an actor and former president of the Screen Actors Guild. (Reporting by Jonathan Allen in New York; Editing by Paul Simao)

(The article has been published through a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has been published verbatim. Liability lies with original publisher.)

Feb 6 (Reuters) – Timothy Busfield, the U.S. actor and director known for his role in "The West Wing," was indicted by a New Mexico grand jury on charges of child sex abuse, the prosecutor's office in Albuquerque announced on Friday. Busfield surrendered to authorities on January 13 after Bernalillo County District Attorney Sam Bregman filed a criminal complaint accusing the actor of abusing twin boys over two years of production of the Fox crime drama "The Cleaning Lady," when the boys were seven or eight years old. The boys are now 11. The 68-year-old actor, in a video recorded before he surrendered, said the charges against him were "lies," and that he would be exonerated. A judge ordered Busfield to be released from jail about a week later, ruling there was insufficient evidence for pre-trial detention. Busfield could not immediately be reached for comment. His defense lawyer, Christopher Dodd, did not respond to queries. Allowing prosecutors to proceed to a trial, a grand jury voted to indict Busfield on Thursday on four counts of criminal sexual contact of a child, a third-degree felony in New Mexico. The indictment was not yet public on Friday morning, but the district attorney's original criminal complaint said Busfield abused the twin boys while filming "The Cleaning Lady" in Albuquerque, the state's biggest city. Busfield was an executive producer of the show, and also the director of some episodes. Busfield is famous for his prime-time television roles as a White House reporter on the NBC political drama "The West Wing," which ran from 1999 to 2006, and as an advertising agency executive on the 1980s ABC ensemble series "Thirtysomething."  He is married to Melissa Gilbert, an actor and former president of the Screen Actors Guild. (Reporting by Jonathan Allen in New York; Editing by Paul Simao)

(The article has been published through a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has been published verbatim. Liability lies with original publisher.)

By Angelica Medina SAN FRANCISCO, Feb 6 (Reuters) – Oversized sunglasses, colourful shirts, Puerto Rican straw hats, and even an "ICE out" sign filled a San Francisco restaurant on Thursday as Bad Bunny lookalikes competed for $100 and bragging rights ahead of the reggaeton star's Super Bowl halftime show. Tacolicious along with Mision Loteria hosted the lookalike contest that drew massive interest. Organizers said 300 VIP tickets sold out in two days, with a wait list of 600 people. "We knew it was going to be a lot of people because we sold out in two days," Luis Guido, one of the organizers told Reuters. "There were at least 300 people inside and at least 200 people outside. So it was a big crowd, but we made it work." Attendees saw the 34 contestants parade their best impersonations of Bad Bunny, born Benito Antonio Martinez Ocasio. Two radio hosts cut the field to 11 finalists before the crowd chose the top four based on cheers and applause. The winner, "Abdul Bunny", who works as a Bad Bunny impersonator, took home the cash prize and NFL swag. "I feel really good because Bad Bunny, Benito is representing all the Latinos and even more now with Super Bowl this Sunday," Abdul said. "Benito, if you hear me, blessings. I do this, your tribute, the Bad Bunny tribute … because I love you bro, I love so much." Bad Bunny's Super Bowl halftime show on Sunday will be a historic moment for Latin music on one of the world's biggest stages. The 31-year-old Puerto Rican star, fresh off winning Album of the Year at the Grammys for "Debi Tirar Mas Fotos," will perform for an expected audience of over 130 million viewers when the Seattle Seahawks face the New England Patriots in the NFL championship game on Sunday. The artist has been outspoken about his political views, particularly his criticism of U.S. President Donald Trump's deportation policies and support for Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential race. Upon accepting one of his three Grammy awards last week, he declared "ICE out" from the stage, referencing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement — a message that resonated with fans who turned out in droves for the San Francisco lookalike contest. (Reporting by Angelica Medina in San Francisco, additional reporting by Maria Cardona; Editing by Ken Ferris)

(The article has been published through a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has been published verbatim. Liability lies with original publisher.)