The Super Bowl wasn’t just about football this year. The cultural fallout from Sunday’s halftime shows – both the official performance by Bad Bunny and the conservative counter-programming led by Kid Rock – dominated the conversation Monday, drawing a sharp response from Jon Stewart on . Stewart, returning to the helm of The Daily Show, didn’t shy away from calling out what he saw as a “pathetic” reaction from the right wing to Bad Bunny’s performance, and the bizarre lengths to which some went to create an alternative viewing experience.
The initial spark, as Stewart pointed out, was the outrage expressed by some conservative figures over Bad Bunny performing in Spanish. This led to a wave of criticism, and to Turning Point USA’s hastily assembled “alternative halftime show” featuring Kid Rock, Brantley Gilbert, Lee Brice, and Gabby Barrett. Stewart’s critique wasn’t aimed at the artists themselves, but rather at the perceived insecurity driving the need for a separate event. “When did the right become such f–king p—ies?” Stewart reportedly asked on the show, according to reports from The Wrap and The Hollywood Reporter. He drew a parallel to criticisms historically leveled at liberals, accusing the right of adopting the very behaviors they once derided – namely, being easily offended and seeking “safe spaces.”
Stewart’s segment didn’t stop at the halftime show itself. He zeroed in on a particularly awkward moment from Kid Rock’s performance, showcasing a clip of the artist seemingly struggling to lip-sync to his song “Bawitdaba,” accompanied by captions that appeared to be largely incoherent. The clip, highlighted by Deadline, served as a visual punchline to Stewart’s argument about the desperation of the counter-programming effort. The comedian’s point wasn’t simply that Kid Rock’s performance was lackluster, but that the entire endeavor underscored a lack of confidence within the MAGA movement.
The broader context, as Stewart framed it, was a pattern of defensiveness and a struggle to adapt to a changing cultural landscape. He connected the outrage over Bad Bunny to the recent controversy surrounding Olympic skier Hunter Hess, who expressed “mixed emotions” about representing the U.S. Amid ongoing ICE raids. This, according to Stewart, demonstrated a broader trend: “For all of MAGA’s triumphalism, it’s not a movement that seems confident in its position,” as reported by The Wrap. The need to create a separate, explicitly “American” halftime show, Stewart implied, revealed a fear of being displaced or overshadowed by other cultures.
The segment also took aim at the unintentional irony of Lee Brice’s new song, “It Ain’t Easy Being Country.” Stewart highlighted lyrics celebrating simple, rural pleasures – fishing, driving trucks, drinking beer, cutting grass – and questioned the sincerity of claiming hardship while engaging in such activities. The Hollywood Reporter noted Stewart’s delight in the absurdity of the lyrics, particularly the image of Brice lamenting the difficulties of country life while “wearing boots.”
Stewart’s commentary arrives at a moment of heightened cultural tension, where even seemingly innocuous events like a Super Bowl halftime show can become flashpoints for political and ideological conflict. The reaction to Bad Bunny’s performance, and the subsequent attempts to mitigate its perceived impact, highlight the ongoing struggle to define what it means to be “American” in an increasingly diverse and globalized world. The Daily Beast reported that Stewart “exposed the real reason for Kid Rock’s sad halftime show,” suggesting the performance was less about celebrating American culture and more about reacting to perceived threats to a traditional worldview.
The incident also underscores the power of late-night television to shape the narrative around cultural events. Stewart’s sharp wit and pointed analysis have long been a hallmark of The Daily Show, and his take on the Super Bowl fallout is likely to resonate with a broad audience, further amplifying the debate and solidifying Bad Bunny’s performance as a defining moment of the weekend. As The New York Times noted, the dueling halftime shows provided ample material for late-night hosts, with Stewart leading the charge in dissecting the cultural implications.
The long-term impact of this cultural clash remains to be seen. However, Stewart’s commentary serves as a reminder that the Super Bowl is no longer simply a sporting event, but a major cultural touchstone that reflects – and often exacerbates – the divisions within American society. The incident also raises questions about the future of counter-programming efforts and whether they can effectively compete with mainstream events in an increasingly fragmented media landscape.
