Turning Point USA’s bold move: counterprogramming a halftime show
Turning Point USA, which is now under Erika Kirk, widow of Charlie Kirk, has announced they’ll stage their own “All American Halftime Show” on the same day as the Super Bowl!
They dropped the announcement with on Thursday with fanfare. One interesting detail that’sstood out when you visit their website was a genre-preference form tied to their site, one option is “anything in English.”
Erika is stepping into a volatile space. She’s not just inheriting the leadership; she’s fronting a controversial spectacle at the heart of a culture war. Given the backdrop — backlash over Bad Bunny’s Spanish-heavy set, his criticisms of ICE — their pitch is clear: they want to reclaim what they see as traditional American values in a moment of cultural friction.
The spark: Bad Bunny, backlash, and language politics
In September 2025, the NFL (in partnership with Apple Music / Roc Nation) officially tapped Bad Bunny as the headliner for the Super Bowl LX halftime show, scheduled for February 8, 2026 at Levi’s Stadium.
That decision unleashed a storm of criticism — especially from conservative and nationalist voices. Some objected to the fact Bad Bunny primarily sings in Spanish. Others criticized his past jabs at ICE and his decision to skip U.S. dates on his tour, citing fears of immigration enforcement.
In response, Bad Bunny leaned into it. During an SNL monologue, he quipped:
“You might not know this, but I’m doing the Super Bowl Halftime Show, and I’m very happy, and I think everybody’s happy about it … even Fox News!”
He also joked that non–Spanish speakers have “four months to learn” Spanish.
So, TPUSA isn’t entering into a vacuum. Their “All American” show is being cast as a counter to what they view as a misstep: the NFL elevating a Spanish-dominant artist who’s also been politically vocal. That’s the battleground.
