The Internet’s Pushing for a George Strait Halftime Takeover—But the NFL’s Reaction Caught Everyone Off Guard. ML
When Bad Bunny was announced as the next Super Bowl halftime headliner, the reaction was immediate — and divisive.
For some, it was a bold celebration of Latin culture on America’s biggest stage. For others, it was a sign that the NFL had turned its back on “traditional” values.
Now, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell is defending the league’s choice after a Change.org petition demanding the singer’s removal surpassed 70,000 signatures. The petition argues that country icon George Strait — a Kennedy Center honoree and one of former President Trump’s favorite musicians — would be a more “unifying” choice.
Goodell isn’t swayed. “He’s one of the leading and most popular entertainers in the world,” he said at a recent press conference. “It’s carefully thought through… and I think it’s going to be exciting and a united moment.”
The pushback, however, underscores something larger: the Super Bowl halftime show has become a cultural battleground.
Bad Bunny, a Grammy-winning Puerto Rican artist, represents a globalized, multilingual generation that consumes music across languages and genres. His critics, meanwhile, see his drag performances and outspoken politics as a challenge to their vision of “family entertainment.”
Turning Point USA, a conservative political organization, has even announced an alternative broadcast — the “All American Halftime Show” — that will air simultaneously, inviting viewers to “vote for anything in English.”
The debate isn’t really about who sings at halftime. It’s about who America sees on its biggest stage — and who it doesn’t.
