I imagine a sea of big guys, each with a single tear rolling down their cheeks dramatically when someone raises a question Bad Bunny's Super Bowl Halftime Show.
People are being so dramatic about an incredibly popular artist (currently ranked 11th in the world according to Spotify) being chosen to perform (in Spanish, the second most spoken language in the US) amid the Trump government's migrant-demonizing propaganda and ongoing reign of terror. It's very scary and can only elicit the most disappointed laughs when the MAGA crowd claims their outrage is driven by a desire to take politics out of sports, as if suggesting a legendary country singer George Strait set to replace Bad Bunny at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California next February is not inherently political.
But here we are: at the time of publication, more than 55,500 people have signed Change.org petition maintaining this very premise, in the name of “one of the most popular musical performances in the world” intended to celebrate not only football, but also the “cultural tapestry of America.”
“The Super Bowl halftime show should unite our country, honor American culture, and remain family-friendly, not become a political stunt,” the petition description reads. “Bad Bunny represents none of these values; his drag game and style are the opposite of what families expect from football's biggest arena. Once again, George Strait represents unity, tradition and timeless American music that is truly worthy of the 2026 Super Bowl.”
Oh yeah, who would best represent America's traditional values at the Super Bowl? Of course, George Strait – he's old and white, plays country music, and his name is literally Strait! Look, if you're really that offended by the presence of famous American citizen Bad Bunny, Charlie Kirk's widow and Turning Point USA are apparently hosting All-American Halftime Showan alternative concert featuring “everything in English” (I love their work!) as a celebration of “faith, family and freedom.” Or just boycott the NFL, but I guess we know how that happened last time.
Notably, Strait has never openly discussed his political views in public during his decades-long career, which is always a good sign. He has historically appeared alongside Republican politicians at disaster relief events, and in August the singer-songwriter was named among the A-listers. Kennedy Center Honors Winners as Trump took control of the institution and vowed to take it in a more conservative direction.
