The culture wars have found a new stage in the Super Bowl halftime show. After weeks of outrage from conservative commentators and political figures, including Donald Trump, over the NFL’s decision to feature Bad Bunny as next year’s performer, one right-wing group has announced plans to host a competing event of its own.
The Puerto Rican-born superstar, one of the most popular artists in the world, was selected to headline the mid-game performance in February. While Bad Bunny is a U.S. citizen and a global music icon, critics have latched onto his Spanish-language performances and past comments about touring in the U.S., claiming the choice is “un-American.”
Now, the conservative organization Turning Point USA, co-founded by the late Charlie Kirk, says it will stage an “All-American Halftime Show” as an alternative. The group, currently led by Kirk’s widow Erika Kirk, announced the plan on social media and launched a survey asking followers what kind of music should be featured.
According to a report from Variety, the group’s proposed lineup will celebrate “Americana,” “Worship,” and, in their words, “Anything in English.” The survey also includes an option for “Hip Hop,” though the tone of the announcement suggests the focus will lean toward patriotic and religious music.
Details about the event remain unclear, including where it will take place or whether it will be broadcast live. The announcement has sparked both amusement and criticism online, with some observers questioning how a small conservative organization could hope to compete with the NFL’s massive halftime spectacle, which attracts more than 100 million viewers annually.
Bad Bunny’s selection marks another step in the NFL’s growing embrace of global and multicultural talent, following past halftime performances by artists such as Shakira, Jennifer Lopez, Rihanna, and The Weeknd. However, conservative pundits have portrayed the move as a rejection of “traditional American values.”
Turning Point’s attempt to create a rival halftime show underscores how even entertainment events have become flashpoints in America’s broader political and cultural divisions.
While the organization has received sympathetic coverage from certain right-leaning outlets since Kirk’s death, it remains uncertain whether mainstream media platforms will collaborate with them to air the show.
Despite the controversy, Bad Bunny has not publicly responded to the backlash. The artist, known for breaking language and cultural barriers, continues to dominate global charts and sell out arenas across multiple continents.
Whether Turning Point’s “All-American Halftime Show” will gain traction or simply fade as another fleeting culture-war protest remains to be seen — but for now, it’s clear that even football’s biggest night isn’t safe from America’s political crossfire.
