A petition to replace Super Bowl Halftime Show performer Bad Bunny with country singer George Strait now has over 50,000 signatures.
Puerto Rican music artist Bad Bunny was announced as the headliner for the 2026 Super Bowl Halftime Show in September, quickly drawing criticism from conservative Americans and Republican Party leaders alike. Now, a petition asking the NFL and Roc Nation to replace him with the straight, white country musician is circulating on the internet.
The petition on Change.org argues that the Super Bowl Halftime Show has "leaned increasingly towards modern pop and international artists" and that this year's show "offers a unique opportunity to pay tribute to American music's rich heritage" by featuring Strait instead of Bad Bunny.
"The Super Bowl halftime show should unite our country, honor American culture, and remain family-friendly, not be turned into a political stunt. Bad Bunny represents none of these values; his drag performances and style are the opposite of what families expect on football’s biggest stage," the petition reads, apparently referencing the Puerto Rican musician's queerness.
Over the last decade, international artists Rihanna (from Barbados), Shakira and J Balvin (from Colombia), The Weeknd (from Canada), and Coldplay (from England) have headlined, while all other performers have been American citizens. If Bad Bunny performs at next year's game, another American citizen would be added to that list.
'America for Americans'
Many people responding in the comments section of the petition not only agreed with its arguments but also took the matter further — saying that they don't want to see a performer sing in Spanish and labeling Bad Bunny as un-American.
"The NFL is once again shoving their political view down the throat of their customers. Bad Bunny is anti-American which is why there is opposition to him for the half-time show," one person wrote.
"We need an American singing American music during an American game not a America hating illegal no one has heard of," wrote another.
"Would refer to listen to someone speaking our language" and "America for Americans," two other people chimed in.
Many Republican leaders have already spoken out against Bad Bunny performing. House Speaker Mike Johnson said he didn't know who Bad Bunny was, but "it sounds like a terrible decision, in my view, from what I'm hearing," according to Entertainment Weekly.
"There are many eyes on the Super Bowl," he added. "A lot of young, impressionable children. And, in my view, you would have Lee Greenwood, or role models, doing that. Not somebody like this."
Corey Lewandowski, a senior adviser at the Department of Homeland Security, stated that ICE agents will be present at the Super Bowl due to Bad Bunny's performance. "There is nowhere that you can provide safe haven to people in this country illegally. Not the Super Bowl and nowhere else," Lewandowski said on The Benny Show podcast, alluding to Bad Bunny's fanbase.
"It's so shameful that they've decided to pick somebody who just seems to hate America so much to represent them at the Halftime game," he added, before stating that he was at last year's Super Bowl with President Donald Trump and "got to enjoy that."
During his recent Saturday Night Live hosting appearance, Bad Bunny joked that Americans have "four months to learn" Spanish before his performance.
