The Secret Behind Super Bowl's Viral Grass People Revealed
The unexpected stars of Sunday's Super Bowl halftime show were undoubtedly the now-viral "grass people" who took to the field alongside Bad Bunny, sparking widespread internet fascination and speculation. These performers, who dubbed themselves "grass bunnies," have finally explained the hidden meaning behind their unusual appearance and revealed the surprising logistical reasons for their inclusion in the spectacle.
Internet Buzz and Initial Reactions
Social media platforms erupted with reactions to the green, hedge-like figures running onto the field during the Puerto Rican singer's performance. United Airlines humorously shared a video with the caption, "When you said yes to the matching trip outfits," while countless other viewers expressed sheer astonishment at seeing people dressed as vegetation. Despite Bad Bunny's performance being filled with Easter eggs, many spectators were left wondering whether there was a deeper symbolic significance behind these bush-clad extras.
The True Meaning: A Field of Dreams and Love
Now, some of the individuals who donned the turf outfits are disclosing what their presence actually represented. "It's honestly supposed to be like a field of dreams and a field of love," explained grass bunny Humberto Martinez to Daily Mail. "That's why we're all on the outside of it and everything is happening inside." The 24-year-old Bay Area native added that they were instructed to stand perfectly still unless directed otherwise, though some couldn't resist dancing to the club-like beats of Bad Bunny's music. "Honestly, that was the hardest thing was not to dance," Martinez confessed.
A Last-Minute Plan B Due to NFL Restrictions
Surprisingly, the walking bush people were not part of the original halftime show concept. Another grass bunny, Tara Lily, revealed that the idea for tall shrubs with people inside them emerged as a contingency plan. "They originally said that the stage was gonna be seven pieces, but when all of the material came for the staging, it was actually 35 pieces," Lily disclosed. "The NFL is actually super strict about their own field because they don't want to damage it, because obviously there's a game going on." Under the league's stringent guidelines, organizers decided to eliminate some set pieces and instead use people to simulate a field, thereby achieving the Grammy winner's artistic vision.
Logistical Challenges and Physical Demands
Approximately 400 extras were added to the program with the intention of creating a field and walls of grass. Lily, who owns a hospitality company in San Francisco, had applied to participate in the halftime show back in November. Meeting the height requirements of 5'7" to 6'1", she was notified in January of her selection. However, she never imagined her role until the first rehearsal when the grass costumes were unveiled. "In walks this person in a bush costume, and they're recording us thinking we're going to be screaming and excited. You could literally hear a pin drop, and all you could hear is my laughing. People were turning to me and saying, 'WTF,'" she recounted.
The grass suit itself, which included a cage to keep the grass upright and off their heads, proved extremely heavy, causing some participants to faint. "It was definitely 40 plus pounds. I'm not even joking, the first day that we put on those costumes, three people passed out," Lily stated. At least half a dozen volunteers dropped out due to the physical strain, exacerbated by tracksuits that made them feel like they were in a sauna. "They had another baseball hat attachment with more bush that they decided against wearing because, you know, in total maybe 7 people passed out," she added.
An Unforgettable Experience Despite Hardships
Despite the cumbersome attire and challenging conditions, both Martinez and Lily ultimately described the experience as "amazing" and "once-in-a-lifetime." They were compensated $2,200 each for their time and have been astonished by their newfound fame. "I have friends that were on Good Morning America, I have friends that were hit up by CNBC, people being recruited to be on 'The Traitors,'" Lily noted, highlighting the unexpected celebrity status the grass bunnies have achieved following their viral Super Bowl moment.
