The viral footage recently shared by Diplo, which appeared to show him performing as one of the iconic “grassy bushes” during Bad Bunny’s celebrated Super Bowl Halftime Show, has been revealed as an AI-generated fabrication.
On February 13, the renowned DJ uploaded a clip to social media featuring himself camouflaged in foliage alongside a group of flora-themed dancers on the field. The video was simply overlaid with the word “surprise,” leading many to wonder if he had actually made a secret cameo.
However, several glaring inconsistencies quickly debunked the footage. Most notably, the digital costume failed to replicate the specific aesthetic of the actual show; the real performers wore significantly taller, more jagged grass suits. Furthermore, the video omitted the massive production elements that defined the Puerto Rican superstar’s set, such as his signature “casita”—which hosted celebrities like Cardi B and Jessica Alba—and the towering power lines he famously ascended.
The most definitive proof of the hoax involved the venue itself. While Super Bowl LX was held at the open-air Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, the AI-rendered clip featured a stadium with a fully enclosed dome roof.
Despite the digital trickery, the post sparked plenty of humor among fans, with some jokingly labeling Diplo the ultimate “industry plant.” While he wasn’t actually on stage during the halftime performance, Diplo was very much a part of the weekend’s festivities. He headlined a massive event at San Francisco’s Pier 80 alongside Calvin Harris just days before the game.
As for Bad Bunny, his genuine presence at the halftime show drove massive engagement. On February 9, the day following his historic set, the artist saw the second-highest streaming volume of his entire career, further cementing the cultural impact of the performance.
