The pastor who helped a couple get married during Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl halftime show is sharing behind-the-scenes details of the romantic moment.
“I got a call from one of my friends,” Antonio Reyes shared with The Athletic on Wednesday, February 11. “[She] said that one of the promoters had spoken to her and said, ‘You know what? They’re looking for a young pastor who speaks Spanish. They want you to marry this couple. We don’t know who they are, we don’t know what it’s for, but are you interested? We think it’s a celebrity.’”
After further discussions, Reyes said he started receiving confidentiality papers and a nondisclosure agreement.
When his wife took a look at the paperwork, Reyes realized he could be part of Bad Bunny’s (born Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio) performance.
“[My wife] opened it and started reading and screaming euphorically,” Reyes recalled. “I said, ‘What happened?’ And obviously, the contract mentioned Benito’s name and the Super Bowl. I was confused. I said, ‘Well, am I going to marry Benito? What’s going on?’”
Before marrying Thomas Wolter and Eleisa Aparicio at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, on Sunday, February 8, Reyes was able to meet with the couple and get to know their love story.
Now that the wedding is complete, Reyes — who serves at Project Church in Sacramento, California — considers the bride and groom “family.”
“We prepared everything,” Reyes shared. “I think it was the quickest ceremony I’ve ever done in my life, but that’s just part of the process.”
Bad Bunny JOSH EDELSON / AFP
During Bad Bunny’s 13-minute set — which was watched by nearly 128.2 million viewers in the United States, according to NBC Sports reports — the Grammy winner surprised audiences with special guests including Lady Gaga, Ricky Martin, Pedro Pascal and Jessica Alba.
From Reyes’ perspective, one of the greatest aspects of the halftime show was the symbolism, history, folklore and flavor Bad Bunny, 31, showcased about his community.
“I think the goal was to honestly communicate the reality and experience of being Latino, and I think that was achieved with all those nuances,” Reyes explained. “For me, as a Mexican, as a Latino, it was a privilege to be part of something monumental. We were aware that something bigger was being communicated.”
As Reyes heads back to his church, which is described as “a place for people in progress,” the pastor is grateful to have had the opportunity to be part of something special for so many viewers.
“For me, as a follower of Jesus and as a pastor, it is very important to be able to represent my community,” Reyes shared. “Moments like these help us with that representation. That we are not just migrants, but human beings with talents, with skills, with something valuable to bring to the table.”
Although Bad Bunny has not publicly commented on his Super Bowl performance, the Latin artist has a jam-packed touring schedule. This Valentine’s Day weekend, he will be performing in Buenos Aires, Argentina, for three straight nights.
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