When millions of viewers tuned in to watch the Bad Bunny Super Bowl 2026 halftime show, they expected high-energy reggaeton, pyrotechnics, and a celebration of Puerto Rican culture. What they didn't expect was to fall in love with a patch of grass. Or, more accurately, the human beings dressed as sugar cane fields who swayed—and occasionally sprinted—into the hearts of social media. Among them was Erik Solorzano from Houston, a 31-year-old program manager who traded his corporate laptop for a 40-pound foliage suit to become an unlikely star of Super Bowl LX.

From TikTok Scroll to Super Bowl Turf

For Solorzano, the journey to Levi's Stadium began not with a talent agent, but with a random late-night scroll on TikTok. "I saw a casting call looking for people with an 'athletic build' between 5'7" and 6'0"," Solorzano told local Houston reporters. "I figured, why not? I sent in my measurements and a few photos, and days before rehearsals, I got the email."

The Houston native viral story is one of pure serendipity. Solorzano, a self-proclaimed "massive" Bad Bunny fan, had no professional dance background. "As a program manager, my skill set didn't exactly lend itself to backup dancing," he joked. "So I asked myself, 'What's the next best thing?' Turns out, it was becoming a human bush."

Solorzano was one of nearly 500 performers selected to bring Bad Bunny's vision of a living, breathing Puerto Rican landscape to life. The gig paid $18.70 an hour—a modest sum for a role that would place him at the center of the most-watched television event of the year.

The "Grass Guy" Takes Over Social Media

As the Bad Bunny Super Bowl LX performance unfolded, eagle-eyed viewers noticed the lush greenery surrounding the stage was... alive. Memes immediately flooded X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram, dubbing the performers the "unsung heroes" of the night. The Super Bowl grass guy phenomenon was born.

"Imagine explaining to your parents that you made it to the Super Bowl, but you're foliage number 264," one viral tweet read. Another user posted a clip of the grass rushing off the field with the caption: "Me leaving work on a Friday."

For Solorzano, the viral fame was unexpected. "We were told to stand perfectly still because 'there's no wind in Puerto Rico' during that specific scene," he laughed, referencing a directive from the choreographers. "But once the cameras cut, it was a mad dash. My phone hasn't stopped buzzing since."

Why Human Grass? The Technical Truth

The decision to use Bad Bunny sugar cane dancers wasn't just an artistic choice; it was a logistical necessity. Levi's Stadium features natural grass, and NFL regulations strictly limit the number of heavy carts allowed on the field to prevent turf damage before the second half. To create the dense, immersive sugar cane field Bad Bunny envisioned without ruining the playing surface, the production team had to get creative: human props.

More Than Just a Meme: The Cultural Symbolism

While the Super Bowl LX memes provided comic relief during a defensive slugfest between the Seahawks and Patriots, the "grass" costumes carried a deeper meaning. The foliage represented sugar cane, a crop deeply tied to Puerto Rico's history of labor, colonialism, and resilience.

Bad Bunny, known for weaving social commentary into his art, used the living field to pay homage to the jíbaros (farmers) and the island's agricultural roots. "Once we found out we were representing sugar cane, the mood changed," Solorzano explained. "It went from 'I'm a bush' to 'I'm part of a story about my heritage.' It was an emotional, 'pinch-me' moment to be part of that tribute."

The viral halftime show performer noted that the costume—complete with a balaclava, goggles to protect against rogue leaves, and a velcro tunic—was heavy and hot, but the adrenaline of the crowd made it weightless. "Standing there, hearing the crowd roar as Benito came out... I don't think I'll ever forget it," Solorzano said.

A Houston Hero Returns Home

Now back in Houston, Solorzano has returned to his day job, but his status as a local legend is secured. He joins a unique pantheon of viral Super Bowl side characters, proving that you don't need to be a quarterback or a pop icon to steal the show.

As for whether he'd don the leafy suit again? "In a heartbeat," Solorzano says. "The grass is definitely greener on the Super Bowl field."