Candace Owens Challenges Conservative Outrage Over Bad Bunny's Super Bowl Performance
In a notable departure from the prevailing sentiment within the MAGA movement, right-wing commentator Candace Owens has publicly criticized the conservative backlash against Bad Bunny's Super Bowl halftime show. Owens labeled the performance as objectively successful, directly challenging what she described as a delusional narrative being promoted by some on the right.
A Break from the Conservative Outrage
Following the historic Super Bowl halftime show on Sunday, where Bad Bunny performed entirely in Spanish and displayed a message of love over hate, many conservative officials and influencers expressed outrage. Some even suggested that an alternative halftime show organized by Turning Point USA, featuring Kid Rock, was more successful. However, Owens took to social media platform X to voice her dissent.
Conservatives are now fully deluding themselves and paying influencers to invert reality. To what end? It's like watching a bad rerun of Hillary Clinton's 'too big to fail' 2016 campaign, Owens wrote. She continued, Reality: you lost the Super Bowl narrative. Bad Bunny had an objectively successful performance, whether you like it or not.
Analyzing the Performance Metrics
While Nielsen ratings for Bad Bunny's performance have not yet been released, the video quickly amassed an impressive 55 million views on YouTube. In contrast, the Turning Point USA alternative show reportedly had about 6.1 million concurrent viewers on YouTube during the broadcast, with approximately 22 million total views at the time of reporting.
On her show Monday, Owens disputed the concurrent viewer numbers for the TPUSA event, calling them made up and impossible. She argued that by measurable metrics, Bad Bunny's performance was a success, regardless of personal taste. This means that the — I would say unnecessary — Super Bowl political lines that were drawn by Turning Point USA was not successful in terms of drawing people away from the NFL's viewership, Owens stated.
Owens' Critique of Conservative Stereotypes
Owens emphasized that she does not conform to what she sees as a conservative stereotype regarding Super Bowl halftime shows. She condemned the trend of watching the event solely to complain about the performance. I feel like it's a bit of a fad now, on the right for you to watch the Super Bowl for the sole purpose of complaining about the halftime performance and why it didn't live up to what you think that it should be, she told her audience.
Despite praising aspects of Bad Bunny's show, such as the set design and dance routines, Owens was critical of the performance being in Spanish. She claimed that the audience might struggle to emotionally connect to songs in a different language. Nevertheless, reports indicate that the performance was well-received by many non-Spanish speakers, highlighting its broad appeal.
The Broader Implications
This incident underscores a growing rift within conservative circles over cultural and entertainment events. Owens' willingness to break from the MAGA narrative on this issue points to potential divisions in how the right engages with mainstream pop culture. Her comments also raise questions about the effectiveness of politically motivated alternatives to major events like the Super Bowl halftime show.
As debates over inclusivity, language, and performance metrics continue, Owens' stance serves as a reminder that not all conservative voices align on every issue, particularly when it comes to evaluating success in the entertainment arena.
