Highlights
- Pitbull set a Guinness World Record for most bald caps worn at a concert.
- BST Hyde Park drew 69,999 fans, the festival’s biggest crowd ever.
- Pitbull had to wear a bald cap himself to qualify for the record.
Pitbull didn’t just headline BST Hyde Park this year. He made history.
The Miami rapper, born Armando Christian Perez, helped set a new Guinness World Record on Friday when 22,141 fans showed up to his London show wearing his signature bald cap look.
The concert itself was a record-setter too. BST Hyde Park drew a total crowd of 69,999 people, the biggest turnout in the festival’s history.
Out of that sea of fans, more than 22,000 “Baldies,” as Pitbull’s cap-wearing faithful are affectionately known, were verified and counted toward the official Guinness title for largest gathering of people wearing bald caps.
Even Pitbull, who is bald in real life, had to strap on a bald cap of his own to qualify. Guinness adjudicator Will Munford explained the rule wasn’t about actual baldness, noting Pitbull needed “to wear a bald cap to be in the record number.”
Organizers weren’t playing around with the count either. Hundreds of volunteers checked fans as they entered, and drone footage backed up dozens of counters working behind the scenes.
Accepting the certificate onstage, Pitbull kept it simple and let the moment speak for itself. “Record breaking, record making, history in the making,” he told the crowd.
At a press conference afterward, he turned the spotlight back on the fans who made it happen. “It’s a blessing, it’s an honor,” he said, crediting the Baldies for turning his concerts into a movement.
The whole stunt reportedly started with a viral TikTok from podcast host Jack Remmington, who pointed out that BST’s massive capacity was more than enough to break a bald cap record. BBC Radio 1’s Greg James got involved, texted Pitbull directly, and the challenge was on.
Pitbull leaned into the moment all night. He closed the show with a singalong cover of Oasis‘ “Wonderwall,” a nod to England’s World Cup run, before fireworks exploded over Hyde Park during his closing number, “Give Me Everything.”
Aldi even got in on the fun, rebranding itself “Baldi” for the day and handing out free caps outside the venue.
Mr. Worldwide, it turns out, has a new title to add to his résumé.
