The National Football League has a knack for aggravating its fan base by using the gridiron to send socio-political messages during a live sporting event. Americans can’t simply enjoy a few hours away from politics and focus on the game itself. They must be bombarded with lessons in social justice. The recent announcement that Puerto Rican singer Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, aka Bad Bunny, will be the headline act of the halftime show at Super Bowl LX on February 8, 2026, is a case in point.
It’s worth noting that earlier this year the so-called King of Latin Trap made it plain that he did not want to perform in the US, according to The Sporting News: “Bad Bunny’s animus towards Trump’s immigration policy – including opting against placing any stops in the continental United States on his latest world tour amid concerns ICE would raid venues – has brought him plenty of admirers.”
It also brought forth many detractors.
Immediately following the announcement that Bunny would be the featured performer at the halftime show, the X platform blew up with critics, like this one:
“Horrible pick! The man said he wouldn’t perform on US soil because of ICE! He is full of s***! And on top of that, he can’t sing for s***. All he does is autotune and overly produced songs. Shutting down my TV during their time.”
Football Hall of Famer Eric Dickerson also made it plain that he was not a Bunny fan: “I’m from the U.S.,” Dickerson told TMZ. “I love my country. And if you don’t like the United States, just get your a– out of here and don’t come over here.” Another X platformer posted: “[He] releases an album criticizing the gringos and ends up kneeling at the most gringo event in gringoland.”
In 1967, two marching bands were featured during halftime at the first Super Bowl, but as the sporting event grew in popularity, the NFL began to expand its horizons. In 2004, Justin Timberlake inexplicably decided to wake up the crowd by pulling off Janet Jackson’s costume, revealing her breast. Weakly explained later as a “wardrobe malfunction” it was a shocking moment for millions watching live on television.
Fast forward to 2012, one performer gave a cameraman the middle finger and said, “I don’t give a s***.” At the time, such obscenity was not looked favorably upon. But from then on, it has been a race to the bottom. Not all of it was pornographic; some half-time shows were merely sloppy or schmaltzy. Other notable bombs include Aerosmith and an Elvis impersonator who performed magic tricks.
Because the television audience is so enormous, the Super Bowl halftime show is a grand opportunity for some counterprogramming, and Turning Point USA has put its hat in the ring. They’ve announced an event called “The All-American Halftime Show,” which celebrates “faith, family, and freedom.” At face value, this appears to be an idea whose time has come for those wishing to shield their family from unexpected clothing malfunctions, profanity, or just run-of-the-mill left-wing ideology.
They are currently lining up their musical artists, so exactly who will be performing remains unclear. Still, Turning Point, the organization founded by the martyred Charlie Kirk, has a reputation for hosting large-scale events with precision that cater to the younger crowd. A big plus will be that, unlike Mr. Bunny’s performance, the program will be conducted in English. Thus, the ratings game is on, and Super Bowl fans will finally have somewhere else to go at halftime than just the powder room.