Bad Bunny's Super Bowl halftime performance is set to make history by integrating Puerto Rican Sign Language (LSPR) for the first time in the event's six-decade legacy. Celimar Rivera Cosme, a deaf Puerto Rican, will interpret the musician's set, bringing much-needed representation to the deaf and hard-of-hearing community. This initiative not only celebrates Puerto Rican culture and language but also raises global awareness about the importance of accessibility and linguistic diversity in major events. Cosme's journey from advocating for LSPR inclusion at Bad Bunny's concerts to interpreting on one of the world's biggest stages underscores a powerful message of perseverance and cultural pride.
The decision to include an LSPR interpreter for Bad Bunny's Super Bowl halftime show is a groundbreaking move. Unlike previous Super Bowl performances that typically feature American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters, this event will highlight LSPR, a distinct language with its own cultural nuances, pacing, and expressions unique to Puerto Rico. This distinction is crucial because LSPR, while stemming from ASL, has evolved into a separate linguistic entity, reflecting the rich heritage of the island's deaf community.
Celimar Rivera Cosme, a native Puerto Rican who is hard of hearing, has been selected by the NFL for this significant role. Her involvement with Bad Bunny began in 2022, shortly after she passionately appealed on Instagram for LSPR interpreters to be included in his live performances. Her advocacy quickly bore fruit, leading to her interpreting for the artist at his concerts and now, ultimately, at the Super Bowl.
The importance of LSPR is particularly poignant given that it is considered an endangered language. Despite an estimated 7% of Puerto Rico's population experiencing deafness or hearing impairment—amounting to approximately 220,000 individuals—resources and recognition for LSPR have historically been limited. Cosme emphasized in an interview with The New York Times, "We've been fighting not to lose our language, but to keep it." She views the Super Bowl as an unparalleled platform to showcase LSPR to a global audience, stating, "The Super Bowl will be an excellent platform for us to use our language."
This historic moment places Cosme in the largest spotlight of her career, offering an unprecedented opportunity to celebrate Puerto Rican culture and its deaf community. She shared her excitement with KQED, noting, "The stakes here are to show that we are friendly people, and also how we dance, our lyrics, our slang. Puerto Rico — we might be a small island, but people here have a huge, huge heart." She also expressed the collective joy of Puerto Rico's deaf community, who are thrilled that the Super Bowl will be accessible in their native sign language, highlighting that while she will be on stage, it is truly the deaf community of her island that will shine.
The inclusion of Celimar Rivera Cosme as an LSPR interpreter for Bad Bunny's Super Bowl halftime show represents a significant step forward in promoting diversity, accessibility, and cultural recognition. It brings a unique linguistic and cultural heritage to one of the world's most-watched events, empowering the deaf community of Puerto Rico and inspiring broader conversations about inclusivity in entertainment.