Turning Point USA, the organization founded by the late right-wing activist Charlie Kirk, announced on social media that it will be hosting its own Super Bowl halftime show on Feb. 8, 2026, to counter the NFL’s choice of Bad Bunny.
On the flyer shared on social media, Turning Point USA is calling the initiative “The All-American Halftime Show,” celebrating “faith, family and freedom.” The flyer says that more information and musical artists will be announced at a later time. Following Kirk’s death last month, his wife, Erika Kirk, was named CEO of Turning Point USA.
The website provided for the halftime show currently displays a form that, aside from personal information, asks only one question: “What music genres would you like to see featured?” The options include: Anything in English, Americana, Classic Rock, Country, Hip Hop, Pop and Worship.
Since the NFL’s announcement almost two weeks ago of Bad Bunny being the featured artist for the Super Bowl LX halftime performance in Santa Clara, Calif., in February, there have been polarizing opinions on the choice.
As one of the most popular musical artists in the world, Bad Bunny has received support from many fans as the halftime choice selected by the NFL, along with Apple Music and Roc Nation, the entertainment company founded by Jay-Z. Others have voiced their disapproval, including President Donald Trump.
“I don’t know who he is. I don’t know why they’re doing it — it’s, like, crazy,” Trump said in the interview earlier this week. “They blame it on some promoter they hired to pick up entertainment. I think it’s absolutely ridiculous.”
Bad Bunny, who performs primarily in Spanish, has been outspoken about his displeasure with the Trump administration’s immigration policies. He also said he didn’t include any stops in the continental United States on his latest world tour out of concern that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement would raid the concert venues.
Days after Bad Bunny was announced as the Super Bowl halftime performer, a Trump administration official said ICE agents would be at the game, which takes place at Levi’s Stadium.
“There is nowhere that you can provide safe haven to people who are in this country illegally. Not the Super Bowl, and nowhere else,” Corey Lewandowski, chief adviser to Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, said during an appearance on “The Benny Show,” hosted by the conservative podcaster Benny Johnson. “We will find you. We will apprehend you. We will put you in a detention facility, and we will deport you.”
Super Bowl counterprogramming is not a new or uncommon concept. On Animal Planet, there have been 21 Puppy Bowls since 2005, including one during the most recent Super Bowl earlier this year. However, while the Puppy Bowl does air on Super Bowl Sunday, it is shown before the game big game kicks off, including one on the most recent Super Bowl Sunday earlier this year. There have also been Kitten Bowls, Fish Bowls and other entertainment on a variety of platforms. Other Super Bowl halftime counterprogramming has also taken place on pay-per-view.
Source link
