nht Culture Clash: TPUSA Announces ‘All American’ Halftime Show in Protest of Bad Bunny Super Bowl Rumors
Culture Clash: TPUSA Announces ‘All American’ Halftime Show in Protest of Bad Bunny Super Bowl Rumors
PHOENIX, AZ – The cultural battleground has moved from college campuses to the biggest stage in sports. Turning Point USA (TPUSA), a prominent conservative youth organization, has announced plans for an alternative, “All American” Super Bowl halftime show, citing the need for a patriotic counterbalance to potential performers like Latin trap star Bad Bunny.
The controversial announcement, made via social media platforms by TPUSA founder Charlie Kirk, follows recent unsubstantiated rumors that Bad Bunny, whose music is primarily performed in Spanish, was a top candidate for the coveted 2026 Super Bowl halftime performance slot. While the NFL has not officially named a performer, the speculation alone was enough to provoke the conservative group.
The “All American” Rationale
TPUSA is framing the proposal as a return to “traditional American values” and a protest against what they view as the increasingly politicized and globalized nature of the Super Bowl entertainment.
“Our Super Bowl halftime show will feature true American icons,” Kirk stated in a post that quickly went viral. “No divisive politics, no foreign language tracks—just pure, unapologetic American spirit, celebrating our nation’s history and our troops. We need to remind the NFL and the rest of the world what this country is about.”
The group has not yet named any specific performers for their proposed counter-event, which would likely take place near the stadium or be streamed online simultaneously.
The Debate on Culture and Patriotism
The reaction to the TPUSA announcement has been predictably polarized.
Supporters argue that the Super Bowl, a distinctly American event, should feature performers who reflect English-language pop culture and overtly patriotic themes. They see the potential booking of an artist like Bad Bunny—who has been critical of U.S. policies in the past and whose performance style is often deemed provocative—as disrespectful to the event’s tradition.
Critics, including many music and culture commentators, slammed the proposal as exclusionary and xenophobic.
“Bad Bunny is one of the biggest artists in the world,” stated one prominent music critic on X (formerly Twitter). “To suggest that his global appeal, sold-out U.S. tours, and Puerto Rican heritage somehow make him ‘anti-American’ is absurd. It’s a transparent attempt to politicize pop music.”
The NFL and representatives for Bad Bunny have yet to comment on either the original rumors or the TPUSA counter-proposal.
The debate underscores the growing tension between conservative groups seeking to preserve traditional cultural symbols and a rapidly diversifying American mainstream entertainment landscape. While the TPUSA event may never materialize on the scale of an actual Super Bowl halftime show, it has successfully ignited a major conversation about patriotism, identity, and who gets to define “American” culture on the world stage.
