On September 28, 2025, NFL, in collaboration with Apple Music and Roc Nation, officially announced that Bad Bunny would headline the Super Bowl LX (2026) halftime show, to be held at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California. Choosing a Spanish-language artist with bold, modern aesthetics ignited a wave of reactions — some enthusiastic, others deeply critical — particularly from people who felt the halftime show should represent a more traditional “American” musical culture.
Shortly after the announcement, an online petition on Change.org emerged, calling for Bad Bunny to be replaced by George Strait, the legendary country music figure often dubbed the “King of Country,” as the halftime performer at Super Bowl 2026.
Arguments of the Campaign
The petition’s creator, under the name “Kar Shell,” argues that a Super Bowl halftime performance should foster unity, honor American cultural heritage, and be family-friendly, rather than become a political or provocative display.
From the text of the petition:
“The Super Bowl halftime show should unite our country, honor American culture, and remain family-friendly… Bad Bunny represents none of these values; his drag performances and style are the opposite of what families expect … George Strait embodies unity, tradition, and the timeless American music that truly deserves the 2026 Super Bowl spotlight.”
The petition criticizes Bad Bunny’s frequent use of Spanish, his performance aesthetics, and themes deemed controversial — suggesting that these elements may alienate traditional audiences. Conversely, George Strait is positioned in the campaign as a “safe” alternative: a performer whose style is more conventional, broadly acceptable, and noncontroversial.
Reactions & Reality
Support Scale
As of mid-October 2025, the petition had gathered over 30,000 signatures from across the U.S. and beyond. Yet in the context of a production as massive as the Super Bowl, this number is symbolically significant but practically unlikely to force a reversal of decisions made by NFL, Apple Music, Roc Nation, and show producers.
Bad Bunny’s Response
Bad Bunny did not formally address the petition (as reported in the media), but he has responded to prior criticisms during his monologue appearance on Saturday Night Live (SNL): “You have four months to learn [Spanish],” a tongue-in-cheek retort to critics who objected to his use of Spanish.
He has also cited concerns over immigration enforcement: for his tour Debí Tirar Más Fotos, he declined to include U.S. dates due to worries that ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) operations might pose risks to his largely Latino fanbase.
Cultural, Political, and Media Dimensions
This episode quickly became a flashpoint in the culture wars — debates over identity, language, representation, and what “American culture” should look like. Several conservative figures, including former President Donald Trump, publicly criticized the selection of Bad Bunny, claiming he is an unsuitable pick for the broad Super Bowl audience.
A notable response came from Turning Point USA (TPUSA), a conservative activist organization, which announced intentions to host an alternative “All American Halftime Show” in protest of the official performance.
On social media and in media outlets, some language veered into identity-based criticism: labeling Bad Bunny as “not American,” or associating his aesthetic with foreign or nontraditional values — signaling deeper tensions about race, culture, and belonging.
At the same time, many artists, critics, and fans support Bad Bunny’s role, arguing that embracing Latino representation at a marquee event like the Super Bowl is overdue and meaningful.
Interpretation & Conclusion
This petition to replace Bad Bunny with George Strait clearly functions more as a symbolic cultural statement than a viable campaign to change large-scale production decisions. The power to decide the halftime show lies with NFL, Apple Music, and Roc Nation — not with petitioners.
Still, the story underscores a larger truth: entertainment and music are never divorced from cultural context. They are arenas in which battles over identity, tradition, and representation play out.
Bad Bunny—by virtue of being a globally recognized Latino artist with a bold identity—sends a message that American culture can be multilingual, multicultural, and inclusive. George Strait—if he had been chosen—would likely represent a more conservative, safer, familiar brand of Americana.
As of now, the official lineup remains: Bad Bunny will headline the Super Bowl 2026 halftime show as announced. But the debate surrounding this petition remains a potent illustration of how music, politics, identity, and public spectacle converge in the social media age.