Kid Rock and Donald Trump Launch Scathing Criticism of Bad Bunny's Super Bowl Halftime Performance
In a controversial response to Super Bowl 60's halftime entertainment, musician Kid Rock and former U.S. President Donald Trump have unleashed harsh criticism against Latin music superstar Bad Bunny's performance. The Detroit-born rocker, who performed at a rival halftime show organized by conservative group Turning Point USA, expressed confusion and disapproval of the NFL's choice of headliner.
Kid Rock's Alternative Show and Critical Remarks
Kid Rock, whose All-American Halftime Show was viewed by over 5 million people live on YouTube, appeared on Fox News' The Ingrahm Angle to share his thoughts. "Like most people, I didn't understand any of it," the 51-year-old musician said of Bad Bunny's 13-minute performance, which was delivered entirely in Spanish. "I saw there's a lot of dancers and a lot of big to-do stuff. And, you know, he said he wanted to have a dance party — it looked like he had one."
Rock acknowledged that the production, which featured guest appearances from Lady Gaga and Ricky Martin, was "not my cup of tea," but reserved his strongest criticism for the NFL's decision-making. "I don't fault that kid for doing the Super Bowl, getting in front of a global audience. I fault the NFL for putting him in that position and Turning Point for having to come out and have an alternative for people to watch."
Trump's Explosive Social Media Condemnation
Former President Donald Trump delivered even more forceful criticism through his Truth Social platform, calling Bad Bunny's show "absolutely terrible, one of the worst, EVER!" Trump's scathing review continued: "It makes no sense, is an affront to the Greatness of America, and doesn't represent our standards of Success, Creativity, or Excellence."
The former president specifically objected to the Spanish-language nature of the performance, writing: "Nobody understands a word this guy is saying, and the dancing is disgusting, especially for young children that are watching from throughout the U.S.A., and all over the World." Trump characterized the show as "just a 'slap in the face' to our Country" despite footage showing him attending a Super Bowl watch party where Bad Bunny's performance was displayed on screens.
Bad Bunny's Record-Breaking Performance and Support
Despite the criticism, Bad Bunny's halftime show appears to have achieved remarkable success. According to early reports from the Daily Mail, the performance attracted more than 135.4 million viewers worldwide, surpassing the 133.3 million who watched Kendrick Lamar's show the previous year. The six-time Grammy winner and most-streamed artist in the world delivered a medley of hits including Tití Me Preguntó and Yo Perreo Sola.
Bad Bunny introduced himself in Spanish during the Santa Clara, California event, telling the audience: "My name is Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, and if I'm here today at Super Bowl 60 it's because I never, ever stopped believing in myself and you should also believe in yourself, you're worth more than you think." The performance concluded with a message of unity as Bad Bunny held a football reading "Together We Are America" while a screen displayed "THE ONLY THING MORE POWERFUL THAN HATE IS LOVE."
Celebrity Reactions and Industry Response
The entertainment industry offered mixed reactions to the competing halftime shows. Lady Gaga, who performed with Bad Bunny, expressed gratitude on Instagram: "Thank you Benito for inviting me and thank you to the entire cast for welcoming me onto your stage. I wouldn't miss it for the world."
Country singer Zach Bryan offered particularly harsh criticism of Kid Rock's alternative show, calling it "embarrassing as hell" on his Instagram Stories. "I don't care what side you're on," Bryan wrote. "A bunch of adults throwing temper tantrums and their own halftime show is embarrassing as hell and the most cringe s— on the planet." Television personality Andy Cohen also mocked Kid Rock's fashion choices during his performance.
The controversy highlights ongoing cultural divisions in entertainment programming, particularly around language and representation in major American events. While Kid Rock and Trump criticized the Spanish-language performance as inaccessible, Bad Bunny's record-breaking viewership suggests significant audience engagement with the international superstar's celebration of his Puerto Rican heritage.
