Christians Encouraged to Watch Alternative Halftime Show

The family advocacy group One Million Moms is encouraging Christians to watch Turning Point USA’s alternative Super Bowl halftime show on Sunday instead of the official network performance by Bad Bunny.

The Puerto Rican musician, whose real name is Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, will headline the 12- to 15-minute Apple Music halftime slot. The show typically draws more than 100 million viewers. The rapper plans to be in drag during his performance and use the opportunity to honor “generations of drag, resistance and cultural rebellion.”

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell is voicing support for pop superstar Bad Bunny in light of the artist’s Grammy acceptance speech Sunday night.

“Bad Bunny, and I think that was demonstrated last night, was one of the greatest artists in the world,” Goodell said during a press conference on Monday. “And it’s one of the reasons we chose him. The other reason is he understood the platform he was on. This platform is used to unite people … and I think artists in the past have done that. Bad Bunny understands that and I think he’ll have a great show.”

The singer has become known for his public support for LGBTQ ideology and opposition to U.S. immigration enforcement. In a USA Today story, the performer was described as “accusing everything he doesn’t like of racism.”

Although he declined to include U.S. cities on his upcoming “Debí Tirar Más Fotos” tour, citing his opposition to ICE, he did accept a contract worth millions with the NFL to headline the halftime show.

Turning Point USA confirmed it will stream its “All American Halftime Show” on its platforms and partner networks. It described the show as a celebration of faith, family and freedom.

The NFL has not issued a formal statement about the controversy, but Commissioner Roger Goodell previously said the choice of Bad Bunny was “carefully thought through” and intended to create a “unified moment,” according to One Million Moms. Worship leader Cory Asbury and Christian influencer Jon Root have argued that Bad Bunny’s performance pushes divisive political messaging.

CBN quoted Samuel Short, a writer for the “Western Journal,” as saying that Bad Bunny’s performance “reflects the social and spiritual decline in America” and accused the NFL of alienating its conservative base. “Families and children watching at home, should they tune in, will now be subjected to the spectacle of a man in a dress,” he wrote.

Most of his songs are labeled as “explicit” on streaming platforms and regularly contain descriptions of sexual acts, profane lyrics, and drug use. Songs like “Soy Peor,” “Dákiti,” and “Callaíta” include foul language and themes that many listeners find controversial. His debut single “Diles” (“Tell Them”) was described as “an X-rated anthem outrageous enough to upset most audiences,” with misogynistic lyrics that openly describe sexual acts according to Vocal Media. Most lyrics could not be included in this article.

Turning Point USA announced on Monday that Kid Rock will headline its alternative show. “We’re approaching this show like David and Goliath,” he said. “Competing with the pro football machine and a global pop superstar is almost impossible … or is it?”

–Alan Goforth