Houston native Erik Solorzano goes viral as “grass” performer in Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl LX show

A Houstonian’s blink-and-you-miss-it role became one of the halftime show’s most shared moments

A Houston native, Erik Solorzano, drew widespread attention online after appearing among the costumed “grass” performers during Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl LX halftime show at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, on Feb. 8, 2026. As clips circulated across social platforms, viewers pointed out faces visible within the moving shrub-like costumes—turning a background stage element into a viral talking point.

Solorzano, 31, said he joined the production after responding to a TikTok casting call seeking field-level performers. He described submitting measurements and photos and being selected shortly before rehearsals. He works as a program manager and said the role did not require dancing alongside the headliner, but instead focused on precise placement and timing as part of the show’s staging.

How the “grass” effect was built—and why it mattered to the concept

The halftime production used hundreds of costumed performers to transform the football field into a living landscape evoking Puerto Rico’s sugarcane fields. Multiple reports from behind-the-scenes coverage described “tall grass” costumes worn by performers who were arranged around set pieces to create movement and depth, reinforcing the illusion of a natural environment on a stadium field.

The show’s visual narrative leaned heavily on Puerto Rican imagery and symbolism, including a sugarcane-field opening and later sequences that referenced hurricane damage and ongoing infrastructure challenges. Bad Bunny also incorporated personal tributes, including a jersey marked “Ocasio” with the number 64.

In interviews after the performance, Solorzano said he initially questioned how a “grass” role could be meaningful, but later understood it as part of a broader “field of dreams” concept for the stage design.

What the viral moment says about modern halftime productions

Super Bowl LX delivered mass exposure for even the most anonymous contributors. Audience measurement released after the game showed Bad Bunny’s halftime show averaged 128.2 million U.S. viewers, ranking as the fourth most-watched halftime performance on record. The game itself averaged 124.9 million viewers across NBC platforms, with a peak of 137.8 million during the second quarter.

That scale helps explain how a concealed, non-speaking role could become instantly recognizable online. In a media environment where viewers rewatch performances in short clips, background details—costumes, staging mechanics, and fleeting facial expressions—can generate their own narratives alongside the headliner’s set.

Key verified details

• Event: Super Bowl LX halftime show at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California (Feb. 8, 2026)
• Houston connection: Erik Solorzano, a Houston native, participated as a costumed “grass”/“bush” performer
• Production concept: A staged environment evoking Puerto Rico’s sugarcane fields, using large numbers of costumed field performers
• Viewership: Halftime show averaged 128.2 million U.S. viewers; Super Bowl averaged 124.9 million, peaking at 137.8 million