Turning Point USA, a right-wing organization founded by the late Charlie Kirk, has announced plans to host its own Super Bowl halftime show in response to the NFL's choice of headliner, Bad Bunny. In a bid to create an alternative event, the organization shared details of its "All American Halftime Show" on social media, stating, “Performers and event details coming soon.” This announcement also includes a link to a survey, inviting fans to select their preferred music genres for the halftime performance, such as “Anything in English,” “Americana,” and “Worship.” Interestingly, the survey also features “Hip Hop,” despite Kirk's previous remarks advocating against the genre, labeling it as “degenerate hip-hop stuff.”
As of now, the specifics regarding how and where the All American Halftime Show will be broadcast remain unclear. Viewers who wish to watch this alternative event will need to switch away from the Super Bowl broadcast. The show promises to celebrate themes of “faith, family, and freedom,” which aligns with Turning Point’s conservative values.
The announcement of Bad Bunny as the performer for the 2026 Super Bowl has stirred significant controversy, particularly among right-wing circles. The Puerto Rican artist's decision to perform has led to scrutiny of his Spanish-language music and recent comments regarding his decision to avoid performing in the U.S. during his last tour due to concerns over his fans encountering ICE agents. This backlash has prompted several government officials to voice their opinions. Kristi Noem, the secretary of homeland security, suggested that immigration enforcement agents would be “all over” the Super Bowl, asserting that only “law-abiding Americans who love this country” should attend.
House Speaker Mike Johnson also criticized the choice of Bad Bunny, calling it “a terrible decision.” He suggested that booking country music star Lee Greenwood would attract a “broader audience,” despite Greenwood having significantly fewer Spotify listeners—under 500,000—compared to Bad Bunny’s impressive 80 million. Even former President Donald Trump weighed in on the controversy, labeling the selection process as “absolutely ridiculous,” although he admitted, “I’ve never heard of him.”
The backlash against Bad Bunny has been a hot topic on conservative media platforms, including "The Charlie Kirk Show," which continues to air following Kirk’s assassination in September during a debate with college students in Utah. His widow, Erika Kirk, has since taken over as CEO of Turning Point USA, steering the organization in a direction that aligns with their late founder’s vision.
In a humorous response to the criticism, Bad Bunny addressed the backlash during his monologue on Saturday Night Live on October 4. He expressed gratitude to his fans in Spanish, while also acknowledging the contributions of Latinos in the U.S. He concluded with a playful jab in English: “If you didn’t understand what I just said, you have four months to learn.”
The 2026 Super Bowl is scheduled for February 8, marking a significant event in which both the official halftime show and Turning Point USA's counterprogramming will vie for viewers' attention.
