When Bad Bunny took the stage at Levi’s Stadium for the Super Bowl LX Halftime Show on February 8, 2026, millions of viewers were treated to a spectacle that was equal parts celebration and statement. But amid the dazzling lights, celebrity cameos, and electrifying performances, one moment captured the internet’s imagination—and soon, its suspicion. As the Puerto Rican superstar knelt to hand his Grammy Award to a young boy during the show, social media erupted with speculation: Was this child Liam Conejo Ramos, the five-year-old at the center of a recent immigration controversy in Minneapolis?
The rumor seemed plausible at first glance. Just weeks earlier, photos of Liam being led away by masked ICE agents—wearing a Spider-Man backpack and a floppy-eared blue bunny hat—had gone viral, turning the preschooler into an unexpected symbol of the Trump administration’s aggressive immigration tactics. The image, as reported by NPR and The Hollywood Reporter, galvanized anti-ICE protests in Minnesota and sparked national outrage. In the days that followed, the story of Liam and his father, Adrian Conejo Arias, dominated headlines and became a rallying point for those demanding reform.
But as the halftime show’s Grammy handoff moment ricocheted across social media, fact-checkers and journalists quickly moved to clarify the truth behind the speculation. According to Bring Me The News, Columbia Heights Public Schools, citing Superintendent Zena Stenvik, confirmed that Liam was not present at the Super Bowl. The family, the district noted, was sequestered at the time, awaiting a critical court date that could determine their future in the United States.
Further confirmation came from multiple outlets. The Hollywood Reporter and NPR both reported statements from representatives of Bad Bunny and the Conejo Ramos family, making it clear that the boy seen on stage was not Liam. In fact, the child was identified as Lincoln Fox, a five-year-old actor of Argentinian and Egyptian descent, who later posted on Instagram, "I'll remember this day forever! @badbunnypr – it was my truest honor."
So why did the rumor take off with such force? Part of the answer lies in the timing and symbolism of the moment. Bad Bunny has not shied away from using his platform to speak out on immigration issues. Just a week before the Super Bowl, during his acceptance speech at the Grammy Awards, he declared, "Before I say thanks to God, I'm going to say, ICE out. We're not savages, we're not animals, we're not aliens. We are humans, and we are Americans." His words resonated with many who saw in him a champion for Latino and immigrant communities—especially given his decision to avoid U.S. tour dates in recent years over concerns about ICE presence at concerts, as he told I-D magazine last September.
The Super Bowl performance itself was filled with nods to inclusion and unity. Alongside the Grammy handoff, Bad Bunny welcomed a parade of A-list guests to the stage—Lady Gaga, Ricky Martin, Cardi B, Pedro Pascal, Karol G, Jessica Alba—and even presided over a real wedding during his song "Baile Inolvidable." The show closed with the message, "The only thing more powerful than hate is love," displayed across Levi’s Stadium screens, and Bad Bunny holding a football emblazoned with "Together, We Are America." According to The Hollywood Reporter, this was a deliberate effort to spotlight love over division, a theme the artist has championed in recent years.
Still, the shadow of Liam’s story loomed large. On January 20, 2026, Liam and his father were detained by ICE agents outside their Minneapolis home after school, as reported by Bring Me The News and NPR. The pair was transferred to a family detention center in Dilley, Texas, where they remained until a federal judge ordered their release. On February 1, they returned to Minneapolis, but the reprieve was short-lived. The Trump administration, in a move that Liam’s attorney Danielle Molliver described as "retaliatory" and "unusual," expedited their asylum court date from later in February to February 6. At that hearing, the judge granted a continuance, postponing their case to February 13—a decision Molliver called "a relief, but only a temporary one." She told CNN, "We’re grateful for the outpouring from the community and we remain committed to the family and this community." The outcome of the upcoming hearing could mean deportation for the family by the end of the week.
The stakes couldn’t be higher. The Conejo Ramos family, originally from Ecuador, entered the country legally and are seeking asylum—a claim their representatives have maintained even as the federal government has pushed to end their asylum status. The Department of Homeland Security’s Operation Metro Surge, launched in December, brought nearly 3,000 federal agents to Minnesota, resulting in hundreds of arrests and, according to NPR, the deaths of two U.S. citizens at the hands of federal agents. The operation has drawn fierce criticism from immigrant advocates and local officials alike.
Against this backdrop, the viral rumor about Liam’s appearance at the Super Bowl halftime show became more than a simple case of mistaken identity. For many, it was a symbol of hope—a fantasy that perhaps, in the glare of the nation’s biggest stage, a child caught in the gears of immigration policy might be seen, recognized, and protected. But as Variety and Hollywood Reporter made clear, the moment was not a direct protest or statement about Liam’s situation. Instead, it was about Bad Bunny fulfilling a childhood dream and inspiring a new generation, especially young Latinos who rarely see themselves represented in such grand fashion.
That hasn’t stopped the speculation, or the debate, from raging on. Conservative critics have lambasted Bad Bunny for the political undertones of his performance, while supporters—including celebrities like Jennifer Lopez, Madonna, Katy Perry, and Shakira—have praised his unapologetic celebration of Latino culture and immigrant stories. The halftime show’s predominantly Spanish-language setlist, its inclusive message, and its embrace of love over hate have all been points of both praise and controversy.
For Liam Conejo Ramos and his family, the spotlight is both a blessing and a burden. As their attorney and supporters continue to fight for their right to stay in the U.S., they remain in hiding—sequestered and waiting for a decision that could upend their lives once again. The boy who became a symbol of a nation’s immigration debate was not at the Super Bowl, but his story, and the stories of countless others like him, remain at the heart of America’s ongoing struggle with identity, belonging, and justice.
As the stadium lights faded and the last notes of Bad Bunny’s performance echoed across the country, the message lingered: love is more powerful than hate, and the fight for inclusion and understanding is far from over.