Sage Steel Notices Something About Bad Bunny Playing the Super Bowl That No One Noticed
The Super Bowl Halftime Hostage: A Debrief on the Bad Bunny Backlash
The decision to name Bad Bunny as the Super Bowl LX (2026, in Santa Clara, CA) halftime performer has ignited controversy precisely because his public persona intersects—and often clashes—with the traditional, family-oriented demographic of the NFL’s biggest event.
The Case Against the Performer
The speaker highlights several key points that position Bad Bunny as a polarizing choice, arguing that the selection is a deliberate act of “poking the bear”:
Political Activism: Bad Bunny is openly anti-ICE and anti-Trump. Crucially, he has publicly stated he would not include the continental U.S. in his world tour due to concerns over ICE raids possibly targeting his fans at his concert venues. This anti-U.S. tour stance is viewed as directly contradictory to headlining America’s largest sporting event.
Aesthetic and Content: His videos and performances are described as “demonic” and too explicit for the broad Super Bowl audience, with a speaker’s own daughter stopping listening due to the lyrics and dark themes. The performer’s choice to “dress in drag as a woman” is also cited as a divisive, hyper-political element that alienates a core conservative audience.
Cultural Disdain: His previous on-stage quip about Americans having “four months to learn Spanish” is seen as a gesture of contempt for American culture and language, framing the performance as a cultural imposition.
The argument is that this choice is intentionally inflammatory, designed by corporate entities to push a divisive, “woke” agenda rather than unify the country.
The Decision-Makers: Who Chose Bad Bunny?
The conversation touches on the crucial question of who is responsible for this polarizing selection. The speakers correctly identify the central entity:
Roc Nation and Jay-Z: The final decision on the halftime performer is not solely the NFL’s or the broadcast network’s (which is NBC for Super Bowl LX). Since 2019, the NFL has partnered with Jay-Z’s Roc Nation as its live music entertainment strategist and co-producer of the halftime show. Producer Jesse Collins has stated that the final decision “is a decision that Jay makes.”
Corporate Consensus: The perception is that the NFL, NBC, and Roc Nation are a “whole bunch of big corporate structure” that sat in a boardroom and deliberately chose the most politically charged, anti-establishment artist possible as a cultural statement. The speakers view this as a “horribly cynical” pushback against the perceived rise of Christian and conservative cultural movements (like the one represented by Charlie Kirk).
The Alternative: Seeking “Americana” and Unity
The speakers express a desire for an artist that represents Americana and would be largely apolitical and unifying. Their suggestions include:
Criteria
Artist Suggestions
Rationale
Legacy/Nostalgia
Journey, Fleetwood Mac
Highly recognizable, multi-generational appeal; invokes shared “memberberry” (nostalgia) feelings.
Americana/Grit
Morgan Wallen, Jelly Roll
Newer, highly popular artists who represent “true grit stories” and an overcoming narrative that resonates with a love for the country.
Hip-Hop Compilation
Dr. Dre’s 90s/00s Compilation
The previous compilation shows (like Super Bowl LVI in 2022) were widely celebrated as fun, high-energy nostalgia, even with some “edgier” content.
The core issue remains: when the Super Bowl is the last great communal television event, why does the corporate machine continue to select performers who are viewed as being intentionally offensive and divisive, rather than unifying?
Do you think the NFL’s strategy of selecting culturally impactful—and often controversial—artists through Roc Nation will ultimately increase the Super Bowl’s relevance or drive away its core audience?