Turning Point USA’s rival halftime show for the Super Bowl hit a snag before the game even kicked off.
The conservative organisation, founded by the late Charlie Kirk, is putting on an alternate gig for people to watch while Puerto Rican rapper Bad Bunny takes to the stage.
However, the ‘All-American Halftime Show’ ran into a major problem just minutes before the New England Patriots and the Seattle Seahawks started playing on Sunday (8 February).
But first, for those who aren’t clued in on why on earth a competing performance is being staged, let us fill you in.
Turning Point USA announced the gig after the news that Bad Bunny had earned the NFL‘s coveted halftime slot ruffled the feathers of a few Republicans.
Although he won’t receive a penny for putting on the show, the exposure alone is worth its weight in gold.
The musician, real name Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, has openly criticised the US president in the past and even released a song called ‘Nuevayol’, which featured an imitated Trump voice.
In the track, the mock voice says: “I want to apologise to the immigrants in America… This country is nothing without the immigrants.
“This country is nothing without Mexicans, Dominicans, Puerto Ricans, Colombians, Venezuelans, Cubans.”
Kid Rock, pictured with Trump in March last year, is among the performers taking to the stage at the ‘All-American’ gig (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
It’s fair to presume that Trump probably won’t have tuned into Bad Bunny’s performance, if his earlier comment about the artists taking to the stage at the Super Bowl this year is anything to go by.
Last month, Trump told the New York Post: “I’m anti-them. I think it’s a terrible choice. All it does is sow hatred. Terrible.”
Explaining why he isn’t attending this year, the POTUS added: “It’s just too far away. I would. I’ve [gotten] great hands [at] the Super Bowl. They like me. I would go if, you know, it was a little bit shorter.”
Turning Point USA seems to be hoping to attract viewers’ attention away from the official show at halftime with performances from artists such as Kid Rock, Brantley Gilbert, Lee Brice and Gabby Barrett at its ‘All-American’ gig.
The organisation had intended to stream its show – which celebrates ‘faith, family, and freedom’ – on its social media channels, such as on X and on YouTube.
However, the organisation shared an ‘update’ on this at the eleventh hour, explaining viewers will no longer be able to tune in via Elon Musk‘s X.
In a post on the platform, it explained: “Due to licensing restrictions, we are unable to stream The All-American Halftime Show on X.
“Head on over to our YouTube channel tonight around 8PM ET to watch the full show.”
Bad Bunny is headlining the official halftime show (Paras Griffin/Getty Images)
People expressed their frustration in the wake of the announcement, with many claiming it was difficult to find out how to access a stream as it is.
“This is harder than hell to find, tbh,” one social media user said. “There are numerous references to it, but none lead to an actual link or broadcast.”
Others were more interested in what the licensing issue was, as a second said: “Why not explain what the licensing issue is?”
And a third added: “All that hype for weeks and you announce this at the start of the game?”
Turning Point USA’s spokesman Andrew Kolvet previously promised that viewers would enjoy a ‘fun, excellent and exciting’ show which caters to ‘the entire family’.
“These performers will deliver exactly that, and we can’t wait to watch the incredible show they’re about to put on,” he said. “We know millions around the country will be watching too.”
The gig has been described as an ‘opportunity for all Americans to enjoy a halftime show with no agenda other than to celebrate faith, family and freedom’.
LADbible Group has contacted Turning Point USA for further comment.
