As even the realm of music has transformed into a competitive arena, akin to team sports, Turning Point USA has boldly declared that it will stage its own Super Bowl halftime extravaganza in protest of the NFL’s official headliner, the globally renowned Bad Bunny. This right-wing organization, originally founded by the late Charlie Kirk, took to social media to unveil its “All American Halftime Show,” teasing with the message, “Performers and event details coming soon.” The accompanying post includes a link to a survey inviting the public to weigh in on their preferred music genres for the grand event, offering options such as “Anything in English,” “Americana,” and “Worship.” (Interestingly, “Hip Hop” is also listed, despite Kirk’s past criticism of the genre, once urging listeners to “stop listening to rap music and this degenerate hip-hop stuff.”)
The specifics of how and where Turning Point’s alternative halftime show will be broadcast remain uncertain. However, viewers would need to actively switch from the main Super Bowl broadcast to tune into the “All American Halftime Show,” which promises to celebrate “faith, family, and freedom,” as stated on its website.
The announcement that Bad Bunny, one of the most iconic music stars globally, would grace the 2026 Super Bowl stage triggered an immediate and fervent backlash from the right-wing. Government officials began voicing their opinions on the Puerto Rican artist’s Spanish-language repertoire and his recent remarks about bypassing the United States on his last tour due to concerns for his fans’ safety from ICE agents.
Kristi Noem, the Secretary of Homeland Security, asserted that immigration enforcement agents would be “omnipresent” at the Super Bowl, believing that only “law-abiding Americans who love this country” should be in attendance. House Speaker Mike Johnson deemed the selection of Bad Bunny as “a terrible decision,” suggesting that Lee Greenwood, a 1980s country music icon with fewer than 500,000 Spotify listeners compared to Bad Bunny’s staggering 80 million, would draw a “broader audience.” Even Donald Trump chimed in, labeling the Bad Bunny choice as “absolutely ridiculous,” despite confessing, “I’ve never heard of him.” The hosts of “The Charlie Kirk Show” also lambasted Bad Bunny in a recent episode of the conservative talk program, which continues to air even after Kirk’s untimely demise. (Following Kirk’s assassination in September during a debate with college students in Utah, his widow, Erika Kirk, stepped in as CEO of Turning Point USA.)
During his “Saturday Night Live” monologue on October 4, Bad Bunny playfully mocked conservative pundits for the uproar surrounding his Super Bowl performance. He delivered a heartfelt message in Spanish, expressing gratitude to his fans and recognizing the contributions of Latinos in the United States. Then, switching to English, he quipped, “If you didn’t understand what I just said, you have four months to learn.”
The Super Bowl is scheduled to take place on February 8, 2026.
