James Smith believes he’s now in a field that’s ‘more future-proof’ than the corporate world

James Smith felt undervalued and anxious about the future as he witnessed artificial intelligence’s growing presence in his workplace. And then he reached breaking point in the corporate sphere and made a dramatic change.

He walked away from his tech role in the city and shifted to straightforward, hands-on labour in his local community. Offering gardening, carpentry and removal services amongst many others, the 34 year old revealed he’s the happiest he’s been in his professional life and bringing in roughly £3,000 monthly without being accountable to a boss. The resident from Stanstead in Suffolk has now explained his transition from shirt and tie to work boots.

He said: “I just didn’t enjoy the office politics and the fact that no matter how hard you worked it was still the same pay and hours in the day. I didn’t feel appreciated either by the boss and as soon as that starts, I find it hard to put in the same effort.

“I was working in SAAS sales for a recruitment company in London in 2022. The company were trying to enforce office-based work for my team in particular while people were working remotely (from other countries) which I couldn’t understand.

“The company in question now uses AI as a tool to help companies find staff without having to sift through CVs so human jobs have been lost. This was a big reason why I started looking at working for myself.”

James had explored various roles beyond the corporate sphere before. Since leaving school, he’d been his mum’s carer and had worked in retail, but chose an office position thinking it would offer a more relaxed environment. He said: “I soon realised there was just as much pressure in an office!”

The breaking point came from an unexpected source – James’ own manager: “I had bought a pick-up truck as I had always wanted one from being a child. I was sat at my desk one day and my manager sitting next to me said: ‘You’ve got a truck sat at home on the drive and you’re here at work every day!’

“That was probably my light bulb moment, and I realised I could be doing something else. I started off with just doing small garden jobs and rubbish collection on Airtasker and I have now completed a course in carpentry, trained as a locksmith and have invested in a van to offer more services through Airtasker.”

Reflecting on his decision today, James insists there’s “absolutely nothing” that could tempt him back to corporate life: “My worst days on Airtasker are better than my best days in an office.

“Before, I would have to travel into the same office every day to do a job that was completely over the phone and computer,. Now I’m out and about helping people.

“It’s the happiest I’ve ever been in my working life. If you have the capacity then I say go for it, there’s no better security than being your own boss. You can work as hard or as little as you need to and you’re answerable to no-one.”

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James reckons there’s greater job security in manual work compared to the corporate sector at present. He said: “Even though there have been huge advances in AI I think we are a few years off being able to do the things that I do, including the kind of tasks I take on through Airtasker.”

He acknowledges that owning a truck provided him with a significant advantage in his current line of work. He said: “I was lucky enough to have a truck to allow me to offer my services straight away, until I had a van though I was limited in the jobs I could offer so I can’t imagine how people who only have a car cope.”

James’s career change isn’t unique, according to AirTasker. The platform’s recent figures revealed the UK ranks among its fastest-expanding markets, with a wider economic transformation placing greater value on practical, hands-on abilities.

The City of Westminster College has also seen a stark increase in the last few years of students being more interested in hands-on courses like construction and built-environment. CEO Stephen Davis noted students are having to think more strategically to find a career that can offer security long-term in the face of AI, according to Reuters.

Carlos Baleba was linked with a move to Manchester United in the summer and January, but his frustrating campaign for Brighton continued in their Premier League defeat to Aston Villa on Wednesday

Manchester United midfield target Carlos Baleba continued his uninspiring season with Brighton & Hove Albion on Wednesday night as he was hooked midway through the first half in the 1-0 defeat to Aston Villa.

Baleba was the subject of interest from United at the back end of the summer transfer window, but the Seagulls’ strong stance on selling the 22-year-old turned them away. After deciding not to make any advances in January, United are expected to sign at least one top midfielder at the end of the season.

Last term, the Cameroonian midfielder had been one of the Premier League’s best-performing defensive midfielders. It’s been reported that Brighton valued Baleba at more than £100million, similar to the fee they received for Moises Caicedo from Chelsea in 2023.

However, his individual performances have come into question this season off the back of a switch to Old Trafford not materialising, leading United to place more focus on Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson and Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton.

On Wednesday, Baleba was in the headlines after Fabian Hurzeler took him off after just 22 minutes at Villa Park. The former-Lille ace was booked after just two minutes following a foul on Morgan Rogers, before being replaced by veteran James Milner.

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TV cameras caught Baleba burying his head in his shirt as he watched on from the bench, with Brighton suffering another defeat courtesy of Tyrone Mings’ late header, which deflected in off of Jack Hinshelwood. After the game, Hurzeler defended his player for his early booking.

“I’m not happy with the yellow card he gets so absolutely the wrong decision for me to give him… the first foul wasn’t even a bad foul, not a tactical foul, a yellow card,” he said.

“Then of course we had to take care of him so that was the only reason. But it was a big impact from the referee to give that yellow card, therefore we had to make the substitution.”

Back in September, the Brighton boss admitted that United’s interest in Baleba had affected the player’s individual performance. However, it remains to be seen whether the Premier League club could will lower their asking price this summer, and whether United will totally cool their interest now.

“I think it’s normal for a young player when the media creates the noise around him,” Hurzeler said.

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“It’s not easy for this player to handle it. Therefore, we need to give him the time and support so he comes back to his best performance.

“But he’s a young player and I think that’s something we have to accept, that young players don’t always have the face we want to see.”

Jimmy Nicol, a guide at Raby Castle, Park and Gardens, is one of 10 finalists for VisitEngland’s Tourism Superstar award, which recognises individuals who deliver outstanding visitor experiences.

Mr Nicol reached the national shortlist after being named Durham Tourism Superstar 2025 by Visit County Durham.

He was nominated by a colleague at Raby Castle in recognition of his infectious enthusiasm, dedication and the ambassadorial role he plays not only for Raby, but for County Durham and the North East as a whole.

Duncan Peake, CEO at Raby Estates, said: “Jimmy’s dedication to both Raby Castle and County Durham is evident in everything he does.

“It is the enthusiasm and commitment of people like Jimmy that have helped establish County Durham as the popular visitor destination it is today.

“I would encourage everyone across the county and the wider North East to show their support and vote for Jimmy in the national Tourism Superstar competition.”

The VisitEngland award celebrates individuals who go above and beyond in tourism.

Nominees span destinations across England, including finalists from Norfolk, Leicestershire, and Worcestershire.

Mr Nicol is joined on the shortlist by fellow North East finalist Dan Monk, director of astrophotography at Kielder Observatory, Northumberland.

Mr Nicol has volunteered at Raby Castle since 2018, where he shares the site’s history with guests and helps deliver major events.

His passion and knowledge have made him a familiar and friendly face to thousands of visitors.

Michelle Gorman, managing director of Visit County Durham, said: “Jimmy is a fantastic example of the people who make County Durham such a special place to visit.

“His warmth, knowledge, and genuine passion for Raby Castle and the wider county leave a lasting impression on everyone he meets.

“We are incredibly proud to see him representing County Durham on the national stage and wish him the very best of luck.”

Mr Nicol said he was honoured to be recognised at national level.

He said: “Winning the Durham Tourism Superstar award was a wonderful feeling, and to now be representing Raby Castle and County Durham at a national level is a huge honour.

“Raby is a place that means a great deal to me, and I’m incredibly proud of the county and the region.

“To be nominated alongside such fantastic finalists is a real privilege.”

The winner of the Tourism Superstar award will be decided by public vote.

Voting is open until the end of English Tourism Week, which runs from March 13 to 22.

The winner will be announced later in the year at the VisitEngland Awards for Excellence 2026.

The latest rugby news from Wales and around the world

Here are your rugby morning headlines for Thursday, February 12.

English star confirms Test future after Welsh interest

Ollie Hassell-Collins has appeared to end any lingering speculation over a potential switch to Wales by reaffirming his commitment to England.

The Leicester Tigers wing, who qualifies for Wales through his grandmother, had previously admitted he would consider representing Wales if his England opportunities dried up. But after returning to the international fold with England A last week, the 27-year-old made it clear where his focus lies.

“It’s a pleasure to put on the England jersey, no matter what it is – whether it’s the top [national side] or the A’s,” he told BBC Radio Leicester.

Hassell-Collins scored two tries for England A in their emphatic win over an Ireland XV at Thomond Park, staking his claim once again in a fiercely competitive back-three picture under Steve Borthwick.

While the fixture took place 24 hours before England’s senior side thrashed Wales in their Six Nations opener at Twickenham, Hassell-Collins insisted the pride in wearing the Red Rose is the same regardless of the stage.

“It was a great week and nice to be involved in some of that again,” he added.

The comments represent a notable shift in tone from this time last year. In February 2024, Hassell-Collins openly acknowledged that Wales was “still part of who I am” and said he would “never turn it down” if the opportunity arose, with Warren Gatland previously expressing interest in the winger.

Under eligibility rules, he would have been able to switch allegiance in 2026 had he not featured for England or England A again. However, his continued involvement in England’s A set-up has effectively shut that door for the foreseeable future.

Hassell-Collins has won two senior England caps, both during the 2023 Six Nations, and was one of the Premiership’s most prolific finishers last season with 18 tries in all competitions, including 13 in the league.

Despite stiff competition on the wing, with Henry Arundell and Tom Roebuck both impressing against Wales, Hassell-Collins made clear his international ambition remains firmly tied to England.

“Obviously I’d love to play for England again, that will always be my dream, but obviously there’s some very good wingers,” he said.

His recent England A involvement also ensured face time with Borthwick as he continues to push for a senior recall.

“During the week, Steve came in to watch one of the sessions,” Hassell-Collins revealed. “It’s little things like that and getting to speak to him, whereas some people may not be able to.

“But being able to come together as a group from different places and buy into the same thing is a unique thing and it’s a skill in itself.”

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Young star says Wales U20s laid down a marker ahead of France test

Osian Darwin-Lewis believes Wales Under-20s have already shown what they are capable of in this year’s Six Nations — and is backing his side to build on an encouraging display when France arrive at Cardiff Arms Park on Saturday night.

Wales fell to a narrow 19-16 defeat against England in their opener, but the performance, particularly in a dominant first half, has given the squad plenty of belief heading into their first home fixture.

“Overall it was a tough one to take,” said Darwin-Lewis.

“But I thought in the first half we were really good. We played in the right areas, had a lot of territory and did good things with that territory.”

Wales controlled large parts of the contest in Northampton and kept England scoreless for the entire first half, an impressive defensive effort away from home that underlined the physicality and work-rate within this young group.

“We knew they’d have a purple patch, and it was about how we would manage that purple patch. That’s something we’ll learn from as we grow as a team,” he added.

“But there’s a lot of positives there. We showed what we can do, especially in that first half. Now it’s about doing it for 80 minutes.”

England wrestled back control after the break with a more effective kicking game and sustained forward pressure, turning territory into points. But Darwin-Lewis believes the issues Wales need to address are minor adjustments rather than major overhauls.

“Our physicality was very good, especially in the first half. Keeping them to zero is something to be proud of. We know we’ve got that physicality and we’ll keep building on it,” he said.

“Their kicking game was a lot better than ours in the second half and they brought their aerial threats into it more. There were a few moments where we probably kicked a bit loosely and let them into our 22 too cheaply.

“Those are small details and they’re things we can fix.”

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Huw Jones vows to reignite Scottish attack against England

By Anthony Brown, Press Association

Huw Jones is determined to help Scotland’s much-vaunted back-line ignite against England after being stifled by Italy in their frustrating Guinness Six Nations opener last weekend.

The Scots were unable to get their free-flowing attacking game going as torrential rainfall turned their showdown in Rome’s Stadio Olimpico into an attritional battle.

Scotland went down to a dismal 18-15 defeat, cranking up the heat on head coach Gregor Townsend and his players ahead of this weekend’s visit from in-form England.

“England are obviously a brilliant team, so it’s a tough prospect,” said British and Irish Lions centre Jones.

“But I think this is probably the perfect game and opposition for us. You don’t need any more motivation, especially after a loss when everyone’s hurting.

“We didn’t really get to play on the weekend, so I think we all have that pent-up frustration and energy from a really frustrating game.

“Even if we’d won that, I think I would have come away from that being like, ‘I didn’t get to do anything’. I’m really angry about that and I think this week that adds to the fuel of just wanting to go out and show what we can do.”

Scotland have won three of the last four Calcutta Cup clashes at Murrayfield, including the last two, but Jones insists that will count for little this weekend.

“They’re a different team, we’re a different team,” said the 32-year-old. “I don’t think it’s ever that helpful to look back and be like, ‘we beat them a couple of years ago’.

“Knowing we beat England, I think that’s always a good thing, but it’s a different week, it’s a different game.

“It’s just about being focused on this game and what we’re doing this week.”

Saturday marked the first time Scotland had lost their opening Six Nations match since 2020 and Jones admitted it was “one of the tougher changing rooms I’ve been in”.

“It’s frustrating, obviously, because you want to start well,” he said. “The Six Nations is all about momentum and building those wins. We didn’t get the first one but you have to just let that go and forget about it.

“You don’t worry about being derailed and where you’re going to be on the table and all that stuff. It’s just game by game, so all that matters now is this game.

“We don’t worry about what’s happening after this game and what’s just happened. Our review process is done. Everything is focused on this.

“The deflation part comes straight after where you’re gutted sitting in the changing rooms. But once you’ve done that review process, that’s gone and you’re fully motivated again.”

Jones dismissed any notion that the Scotland set-up has become stale after almost nine years under Townsend.

“I think the environment’s adapted over the years,” he said. “I think it’s always growing. Right now I’d say no [it’s not stale]. I think it’s been growing and building and changing over the years.

“Obviously it’s largely the same guys, but I’ve seen growth in the team. I’ve seen players improve, I’ve seen coaches improve, and I’ve seen our game adapt and change and also improve. I believe in this group.”

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A Mobile UK boss has urged MPs and local councillors to stop blocking new phone masts, as it emerged that just two areas in north Norfolk were found to have ‘good’ connections

A Mobile UK boss has called upon MPs and members of the public alike to stop blocking phone masts, explaining that this was the biggest issue when it comes to phone coverage.

While attending a North Norfolk District Council meeting, Mobile UK’s director of policy and communications, Gareth Elliott, was quizzed by councillors as to why exactly the signal in certain parts of the region was so poor, with various blackspots. In response, Mr Elliot explained, “We’ve seen MPs who have objected to masts, I’ve seen councillors objecting to masts. That is a blocker in itself.”

Concerns over phone masts date back decades. In a 2000 report, the Independent Expert Group on Mobile Phones (IEGMP) determined that, on the balance of evidence, there is no general risk to the health of those living near base stations, with exposures expected to be small fractions of guideline levels. Three years later, in a 2003 report, the independent Advisory Group on Non-ionising Radiation (AGNIR) concluded that exposure levels from living near base stations were extremely low.

Still, despite such reassurances, many people remain anxious about the thought of living near phone masts, and will take action to keep them far away from their own front garden.

READ MORE: Anyone with an Apple Watch given ‘blood pressure’ warning after new research

BBC News reports that, based on data compiled for the county council-run Streetwave project, just two areas in north Norfolk were found to have “good” connections. Mr Elliott declared that Mobile UK represented operators – EE, Virgin Media O2, and VodafoneThree – had made a commitment to providing 5G connections to “90 per cent of all populated areas by 2030”.

While raising problems with MPs and councillors objecting to masts being built within the district, Mr Elliott did also concede that rural areas were not always “economically viable” in terms of network infrastructure investment, as per the Eastern Daily Press. He said: “Planning applications have gone through due diligence to understand how it affects the existing network and radio physics. We don’t just build masts anywhere and everywhere.”

While there have been a number of new mast applications in recent years, not in north Norfolk and elsewhere, there has also been plenty of opposition. This was the case in the village of Erpingham, where many were keen to rectify the poor phone signal, only for former Conservative MP Duncan Baker, councillors and concerned locals to block this move.

Showing support for improving network coverage, Steffan Aquarone, Liberal Democrat MP for North Norfolk, asserted: “I was surprised to hear the comments made by Gareth Elliot, that MPs objecting to masts has become a blocker to better rural signal. I have never been in any opposition to any infrastructure that will improve mobile phone coverage in North Norfolk, and in fact, have rallied for the exact opposite.

“Although I’m keen that mobile operators use the latest technology to minimise visual impact, and take into account all aspects of health and safety, I have been actively campaigning to improve mobile signal since I was first elected in 2017 and will continue to fight for it until North Norfolk is better connected.”

Do you have a story to share? Email me at julia.banim@reachplc.com

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The national transport agency is spending £350,000 on a pilot testing technology which identifies “distracted drivers” using smartphones or not wearing seatbelts.

New AI ‘spy’ cameras will be rolled out on Scotland’s roads to catch drivers who break the law.

The national transport agency is spending £350,000 on a pilot testing technology which snares “distracted drivers” who use smartphones or fail to wear seatbelts behind the wheel.

Previous roll outs elsewhere in the UK have seen thousands of motorists caught out in a matter of days.

Transport chiefs said the trial was part of a plan to make the country’s roads the safest in the world.

But privacy campaigners slammed the use of AI technology on Scots roads, branding it “intrusive and creepy”.

A Transport Scotland spokesman said: “We have committed to trialling distracted driver technology as we work towards our goal of making Scotland’s roads the safest in the world by 2030.

“This contract award is part of that ongoing work.

“Plans for the roll out of this technology are being finalised and will be announced in due course.”

Transport chiefs have awarded the contract for the pilot to Edinburgh-based firm AECOM, the only available firm to offer the technology, which would be used to “determine the scale and extent of specific driver behaviours”.

The company says it uses a unique combination of “AI hardware and software, as well as a team of our analysts, to identify any drivers using mobile phones or not wearing seatbelts”.

Images are taken and “algorithmically analysed in real time” with any potential violations being sent to a team of analysts to review and check.

It says: “In addition to directly deterring illegal and dangerous driving, the contextual data captured, such as traffic conditions and demographics, can be used to inform policies and develop targeted interventions, such as education to highlight the dangers of hands-free devices.”

Drivers can be fined up to £500 for not wearing a seatbelt, in addition to penalty points, and up to £1,000 and six penalty points for using a mobile phone.

The Department for Transport ran a trial of the kit across the UK in 2023, which featured some sites in Scotland.

Police forces previously piloting the cameras were Durham, Greater Manchester Police, Humberside, Staffordshire, West Mercia, Northamptonshire, Wiltshire, Norfolk, Thames Valley Police, Sussex and Warwickshire.

In 2024, Transport for Greater Manchester said a total of 3,205 drivers or passengers were caught out on Greater Manchester roads over a five-week period.

Ultra-detailed, close-up images were released as part of the trial, capturing those risking innocent lives by breaking the law as they travel.

TfGM said the trial had helped gather data to understand the scale of the issue, which would then be used to guide future education campaigns and enforcement.

In August last year, Devon & Cornwall Police said about 50% more people had been caught not wearing seat belts as those fined for driving while using mobile phones.

It said 10,000 images collected by Artificial Intelligence cameras over the last 12 months had captured 6,000 people breaking seat belt laws and 4,000 drivers using phones.

It added a large proportion of those killed in road accidents in Devon and Cornwall who were not wearing seat belts were young people, aged 16 to 24.

The AA has previously warned that AI cameras must not become a substitute for traffic officers stopping suspect motorists who might also be drink driving – an offence that would not be recorded by simply snapping images.

And Jake Hurfurt, Head of Research and Investigations at privacy campaign group Big Brother Watch said the new contract for Scotland must ensure intrusive surveillance is not used in the place of “human decision making”.

He said: “Drivers should not be monitored and potentially criminalised by AI-powered video analysis. This kind of surveillance is creepy and intrusive, and treats every driver it captures as a potential suspect.

“We should all be able to go about our lives without being analysed by faceless and unaccountable AI.

“The Information Commissioner has expressed concern about how the adoption of immature biometric surveillance tools could lead to discrimination. Public bodies need to be careful to ensure they are not using privacy-threatening algorithms in place of human decision making.”

But IAM RoadSmart Director of Policy and Standards Nicholas Lyes said the pilot was a “positive step” for road safety in Scotland.

He said: “The use of AI cameras for mobile phone and seatbelt offences has already led to positive changes in behaviour where this has been trialled in south west England.

“We know that driver distraction and non-seatbelt use are considered part of the police’s ‘fatal five’ and clearly officers cannot always be in all places.

“Embracing new technology which keeps everyone safe is a positive step.”

In a statement, UH Sussex said its mortality rates for the past three years were “markedly below national rates” and that, as one of the larger NHS trusts in England, it would expect to be associated with higher levels of negligence claims. “Our goal is to provide the safest possible maternity care,” it added.

Gold medallist Charlie’s knock-out support comes after it was announced that three Scottish organisations are set to receive a major boost from Games-related giving.

One of the most recognisable faces of the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games – Motherwell boxer Charlie Flynn – has backed a new charity fundraising drive linked to the return of the Games to the city.

Gold medallist Charlie’s knock-out support comes after it was announced that three Scottish organisations are set to receive a major boost from Games-related giving.

Through the Commonwealth Sport Foundation, the official charity of the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games, 50 per cent of all Games-linked donations will stay in Scotland.

Funds will support Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity, Scottish Sports Futures – which uses sport to help young people to be healthier, more confident and resilient – and the Team Scotland Youth Trust, which provides financial awards and educational opportunities to promising young athletes.

The remaining 50 per cent will fund sport-for-development programmes such as GAPS, which aims to remove barriers to participation for Para athletes across the Commonwealth.

The Commonwealth Sport Foundation was born from the legacy of 2014, when organisers recognised the potential to mobilise real charitable impact through the Games.

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One of the defining faces of that magical summer 12 years ago, was Team Scotland lightweight boxing gold medallist Charlie Flynn, who helped launch the partnership at Glasgow Boxing Academy, just across the Clyde from the SEC, where the boxing will be held this summer.

“The Mailman” captured the nation’s imagination with his gold medal win in front of a raucous home crowd, and his memorable post-bout interviews, including when he thanked supporters who “looked like ants but roared like lions”.

Charlie said: “The Games returning to Glasgow brings back memories of two weeks that changed my life.

“I’ll never forget walking out and hearing that noise. I felt like the whole city was behind me.

“Glasgow 2014 did incredible things for me, but it also did incredible things for people’s belief in the city.

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“But a far bigger moment for me was when my son’s life was saved by an emergency heart operation at Glasgow Children’s Hospital.

“I’m just so pleased that its charity will benefit from people enjoying the Games, alongside two other organisations helping people transform their lives through the power of sport.

“I guess you could say I’m buzzing like a jar of wasps that the Games are coming back to Glasgow.

“And even more so knowing the impact will be felt long beyond this summer through these incredible charities getting much-needed support.”

Inspired by the impact of fundraising during Glasgow 2014, the Commonwealth Sport Foundation was established to help address some of the world’s greatest challenges and to support sport and development programmes in each host city, with a focus on youth, inclusion and community.

The Foundation has so far raised almost £5 million to help change the lives of athletes and communities.

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A paint that cools buildings whilst simultaneously harvesting water from the air has been unveiled by scientists at the University of Sydney, Australia. The nano-engineered polymer was created in conjunction with startup Dewpoint Innovations, and reflects sunlight, cooling buildings by up to 6°C inside.

Not only does it reduce the need for energy-hungry air-conditioning systems, but the porous structure of the coating creates ideal conditions for atmospheric water vapour to condense into droplets on the cooler surface, the way steam condenses on a bathroom mirror. The fresh water dew is then harvested and can be used as water for animals, for horticulture of high-value plants, for use in cooling by misting, or even for use in hydrogen production.

“This technology not only advances the science of cool roof coatings but also opens the door to sustainable, low-cost and decentralised sources of fresh water – a critical need in the face of climate change and growing water scarcity,” said the university’s Prof Chiara Neto. “While humid conditions are ideal [for the paint], dew can form even in arid and semi-arid regions where night-time humidity rises. It’s not about replacing rainfall but supplementing it – providing water where and when other sources become limited.

Main image: Ian Talmacs

After days of controversy in which Donald Trump complained about the acts and said he would not attend, and alternative “all-American” entertainment was lined up, Puerto Rican rapper Bad Bunny took to the stage of the much-hyped halftime show of Sunday’s Super Bowl.

Expectations were high, a fact reflected in the unprecedented number of viewers who tuned in. Bad Bunny’s show surpassed 135.4 million views, exceeding Kendrick Lamar’s 133.5 million in 2025 and Michael Jackson’s 133.4 million in 1993.

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Media coverage framed the event primarily as a celebration of diversity, fuelling a backlash from Donald Trump supporters and conservative commentators. The criticism targeted Bad Bunny not only for his outspoken opposition to the Trump administration, but also for claims that he was “not an American artist” – ignoring Puerto Rico’s status as a US territory. Bad Bunny’s performance demonstrated how authenticity can be produced through anti-colonial activism.

While authenticity is often regarded as something real, true or genuine, it is defined by a relational quality that can emerge through a person’s behaviour in three ways: through connections to people or place; conformity to, or disruption of, conventions, and consistency between message and action. We look at how Bad Bunny displayed all three at the Super Bowl.

1. Authenticity as connection

This was evident in the presence of sugar cane on stage, a crop that shaped the colonial economies of the Caribbean. Plantations were owned by colonisers and sustained through the violent exploitation of Indigenous people and transatlantic enslaved Africans. By foregrounding sugar cane, the performance exposed the foundations of colonial wealth and reclaimed a symbol of oppression as historical truth rather than romanticised memory.

The presence of Puerto Rican icon Ricky Martin strengthened this sense of connection when he performed Bad Bunny’s Lo Que Le Pasó A Hawaii. Through its lyrics, the song cautions Puerto Ricans against relinquishing their cultural identity amid pressure to assimilate into the influence of the US. Martin’s performance underscored the message, highlighting cultural preservation as an essential form of anti-colonial resistance

Lady Gaga added a powerful layer of symbolism to the performance. Her light blue dress referenced the original 1895 design of the Puerto Rican flag before its shade was darkened to align with the US flag. She adorned it with a red hibiscus, a national emblem of pride and resistance, alongside white flowers. Together, these elements echoed the colours of the Puerto Rican flag. Gaga embodied respect, participation and solidarity rather than segregation or erasure.

2. Authenticity as conformity

Artists often simultaneously conform to and break rules, and Bad Bunny mastered that tension. As a Puerto Rican artist rising within an industry that frequently pressures performers to abandon their roots, he instead created a hybrid cultural space: a Spanish-language Super Bowl halftime show. He operated within the system while disrupting assumptions and expectations that English must dominate and that mainstream icons should fit a narrow cultural mould.

Bad Bunny further disrupted the dominant narrative that reduces “America” to the US, instead acknowledging the full geography of the Americas. After declaring “God bless America”, he proceeded to list countries from the southernmost to the northern regions of the continent.

By naming countries across the Americas, Bad Bunny also inverted the conventional geopolitical hierarchy. The gesture echoed Uruguayan artist Joaquín Torres-García’s famous painting América Invertida (Inverted America) and his assertion that “the south is our north”, challenging the idea that cultural or political legitimacy must flow from the so‑called north, and rejecting the aspiration to emulate it.

3. Authenticity as consistency

Consistency appeared through callbacks to Bad Bunny’s longstanding activism. The lamppost explosion before performing El Apagón directly referenced the 2022 song’s music video, which functions as a documentary critiquing infrastructure neglect and the privatisation of electricity by North American companies. This moment connected entertainment to colonial reality for Puerto Ricans, reinforcing how Bad Bunny refuses to separate his art from the colonial conditions affecting his homeland.

The brief appearance of El Sapo Concho, the unofficial mascot of his latest album, added another layer of symbolic continuity. Nearly driven to extinction through centuries of ecological disruption tied to colonial extraction of resources, the Puerto Rican crested toad has become a visual shorthand for survival against structural harm. Its presence, even for a moment, served as a reminder that colonialism’s impact is environmental as much as cultural, and invoked themes of survival and resistance against imposed systems.

The same idea emerged when Bad Bunny presented a Grammy to a younger version of himself, reinforcing his phrase: “If I’m here, it’s because I always believed in myself.” In a world where people from colonised nations face discrimination, exclusion, oppression and marginalisation, many came to view the culture of their colonisers as a path to transcend those barriers. Thus, Bad Bunny’s gesture reclaimed self-belief as an act of defiance. By centring identity rather than imitation, Bad Bunny asserted that authenticity, not mimicry, is the most powerful form of anti-colonial refusal.

This is America

At the end of the performance, a flashing billboard read: “The only thing more powerful than hate is love.” Bad Bunny held a football inscribed with the words “Together, We Are America”.

This proposed a pan-American ideal anchored in solidarity rather than domination, emphasising collaboration over hierarchy. Hate thrives on isolation, but this act created a unifying vision. Through symbols of collective resilience, Bad Bunny framed authenticity as anti-colonial activism grounded in love, memory and community.

Overall, these visuals were intentional, aligning with years of public statements, music and community engagement. Each element reinforced a consistent narrative of resistance, showing that authenticity is not just performance but the culmination of sustained anti-colonial activism.

By embedding history, symbolism and personal conviction into every moment, Bad Bunny demonstrated that art can be a deliberate vessel for political and cultural action grounded in love, tolerance and inclusion.

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