Bad Bunny Super Bowl Halftime Sparks Controversy and Country Music Counter-Movement
LOS ANGELES — On September 28, 2025, the NFL officially announced that Bad Bunny, the Puerto Rican rapper, singer, and producer widely regarded as the “King of Latin Trap,” would headline the Super Bowl LX halftime show. Known for his genre-defying music, bold fashion statements, and recent acting roles in films such as F9, Bullet Train, and Cassandro, Bad Bunny’s selection immediately drew both excitement and controversy.
For his fans, the announcement was a triumph, signaling recognition of Latin music’s global influence on one of America’s largest cultural stages. Bad Bunny, who recently confirmed that he had not scheduled any U.S. tour dates due to concerns about ICE enforcement at his concerts, acknowledged the historic nature of the performance while teasing his Super Bowl set. His presence promised a performance that would be unapologetically authentic to his artistry, performed entirely in Spanish for the first time in Super Bowl history.
Yet not everyone welcomed the news. Turning Point USA (TPUSA), the conservative campus activist organization co-founded by the late Charlie Kirk, announced just over a week later, on October 9, that it would host the All American Halftime Show in protest. TPUSA’s event is positioned as a patriotic alternative to the NFL’s official halftime show, described as a celebration of faith, family, and freedom. The organization’s announcement emphasized a desire to honor traditional American values on the nation’s most-watched sporting stage.
The decision to host an alternate event has sparked a broader cultural debate about the intersection of music, politics, and American identity. Supporters of TPUSA argue that the NFL’s selection of Bad Bunny politicizes what has historically been a unifying moment for American families. Critics, however, have framed the counter-event as a reactionary stunt, positioning it as an effort to push a specific ideological agenda in opposition to artistic expression.
Country Music Fans Mobilize
The controversy has also drawn the attention of country music enthusiasts. Multiple petitions have been launched calling for George Strait, the country music icon, to replace Bad Bunny as the Super Bowl halftime performer. One petition, started by Kar Shell, states: “The halftime show should unite our country, honor American culture, and remain family-friendly—not be turned into a political stunt. Bad Bunny represents none of these values; his drag performances and style are the opposite of what families expect on football’s biggest stage.”
As of this writing, Shell’s petition has garnered over 2,000 signatures, accompanied by hundreds of supportive comments urging the NFL to reconsider the lineup. Social media platforms have seen a surge of engagement around the topic, with fans praising Strait as a more traditional choice and highlighting his decades-long contributions to country music. One user commented, “We need George Strait. Country music hasn’t been played in the Super Bowl in a long time, and who better than the greatest of all time?” Another wrote, “It’s time to bring family-friendly music back to the biggest stage in America.”
The petitions reflect a broader trend of fan activism in the digital era, where social media campaigns can quickly gain traction and influence public discourse. Whether these campaigns will have any impact on the NFL’s decision remains to be seen, but they underscore the deep cultural divisions surrounding the event.
Bad Bunny’s Artistic Vision
For Bad Bunny, the Super Bowl performance represents a milestone in his career and a statement about artistic authenticity. He has consistently challenged conventional norms in both music and fashion, embracing drag elements, gender-fluid styling, and politically conscious themes in his work. His choice to perform in Spanish, while groundbreaking, has been interpreted by some critics as exclusionary to English-speaking audiences, fueling additional controversy.
Supporters, however, view his selection as a positive step toward recognizing the diversity of America’s population and the global reach of Latin music. Univision host Jorge Ramos noted, “Bad Bunny isn’t dividing America—he’s reflecting it. He’s saying what millions of Latinos feel: that our culture, our language, and our identity are just as American as anyone else’s.”
The NFL’s Response
The NFL has defended its decision, emphasizing the global influence of Bad Bunny and the intent to showcase diverse musical voices. “Our choice of Bad Bunny reflects the diversity and global power of today’s artists,” the league stated. “The Super Bowl halftime show has always been about uniting people through music, not dividing them through politics.”
However, insiders acknowledge that league executives are closely monitoring the backlash from conservative groups, social media users, and country music fans alike. With the Super Bowl scheduled for February 8, 2026, at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, the league faces the challenge of balancing artistic innovation, audience expectations, and the potential for polarized reactions.
Cultural and Political Implications
The controversy over Bad Bunny’s performance illustrates how the Super Bowl halftime show has evolved from a purely entertainment-focused segment into a stage for cultural and political expression. Previous halftime performances by Beyoncé (2016), Shakira and Jennifer Lopez (2020), and Eminem (2022) have faced scrutiny for perceived political messaging, but Bad Bunny’s selection—combined with his outspoken stances on immigration and other progressive issues—has intensified the national debate.
For Turning Point USA, the All American Halftime Show represents both a protest and a rallying point for conservative audiences. Featuring traditional music genres such as country, Americana, and classic rock, the event is explicitly marketed toward viewers who feel alienated by contemporary pop culture trends. TPUSA’s campaign highlights the growing role of grassroots mobilization in shaping public perception of large-scale media events.
The Stakes for the NFL
The NFL faces a delicate balancing act. On one hand, Bad Bunny’s selection appeals to younger, diverse, and globally minded audiences, enhancing the league’s cultural relevance and streaming viewership. On the other, the backlash from conservative commentators, petitions for George Strait, and TPUSA’s alternate event could threaten traditional ratings, advertising revenue, and fan loyalty.
Marketing analyst David Reynolds observed, “This is a high-wire act. The NFL doesn’t just sell football—it sells America’s image of itself. Bad Bunny is bold, inclusive, and modern—but the league knows there’s a segment of fans who see this as a provocation.”
Looking Ahead
With the countdown to Super Bowl LX underway, the cultural conversation around the halftime show shows no signs of abating. Fans, activists, and commentators continue to debate the role of politics, identity, and artistic expression on one of America’s most-watched stages. Whether the petitions, social media campaigns, or alternate shows will influence the NFL’s programming remains uncertain, but the attention underscores the significance of the event in national discourse.
For Bad Bunny, the stakes are clear: this isn’t just a performance—it’s a declaration of identity, culture, and creative independence. For Turning Point USA and country music advocates, the stakes are equally high, framed around tradition, values, and the definition of “family-friendly” entertainment. The clash of perspectives has transformed what is traditionally a musical interlude into a flashpoint of cultural debate, highlighting the evolving role of sports, media, and music in American society.
As February 2026 approaches, all eyes will be on Levi’s Stadium, where the Super Bowl halftime show will no longer be a simple interlude between football quarters. It has become a battleground for culture, identity, and influence—a stage on which the country’s divisions, values, and aspirations will play out in front of hundreds of millions of viewers worldwide.
