At the 60th Super Bowl on Sunday, sports take a back seat. Politics overshadows the duel between the New England Patriots and the Seattle Seahawks. The political and social situation in the USA is tense.
Since Donald Trump took office for the second time, there have been repeated violent attacks by the immigration agency ICE, and several people have already died. There were protests against Trump’s policies across the country. The culture war in the USA between conservatives and liberals culminates in the Super Bowl.
Trump opponent Bad Bunny
In the clear anti-Trump camp and at the center of the discussions: halftime show performer Bad Bunny. The Puerto Rican is currently the most listened to artist in the world. His songs are about poverty, drugs, gentrification and gender roles.
Most recently, he won three awards at the Grammys and – as he has done several times before – made a political statement. In his acceptance speech, the 31-year-old said: “Before I thank God, I say: ICE out! We are not animals or savages, but Americans.” Trump’s migration policy is one of the musician’s many points of criticism.
Republican Patriots vs. Democratic Seahawks?
The political systems also collide on the playing field. At the helm of the Seahawks is Jody Allen, an avowed Democrat. Patriots owner Robert Kraft is a friend and supporter of Trump. According to Kraft, contact is said to have cooled down after the storming of the Capitol on January 6, 2021, but the Patriots boss was recently seen at Trump’s side again.
Sports fans are divided
According to a Quinnipiac University poll, 74 percent of Democrats support Bad Bunny’s appearance and 10 percent are against it. The situation is different for Republicans: only 16 percent find the choice of performer acceptable. 63 percent criticize the NFL for their choice.
The fact that Bad Bunny takes a stand against Trump’s policies and sings exclusively in Spanish is upsetting to many Trump supporters. Some do not recognize him as an American. Although Puerto Rico is officially part of the USA.
ICE at the Super Bowl?
Fearing that his concerts could be used by ICE to target his Latin American fans, Bad Bunny recently refrained from performing in the USA. He makes an exception for the Super Bowl.
ICE could also be present there – Kristi Noem, US Secretary of Homeland Security, had already announced this in October. When asked about a possible ICE deployment at this event, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell remained vague at a press conference. He said: “We’re doing everything we can to make sure it’s a safe event. The government is an important part, that applies to this one as much as any before it.”
Criticism from the conservative camp
“Woke Bowl” – that’s what conservatives and Trump supporters are calling the event in view of the musical acts. In addition to Bad Bunny, “Green Day” will also perform. Frontman Billie Joe Armstrong has been railing against Trump and his policies for years, calling him one “Fascists” and “fat bastard”.
That’s why the right-wing populist organization Turning Point USA wants to offer an alternative program to the Super Bowl halftime show. “Bad Bunny will perform in a dress and sing in Spanish? We’re going to play great songs for people who love America.”said Trump fan and musician Kid Rock.
California “too far away” for Trump
Trump doesn’t want to go to the Super Bowl either. Bad Bunny is one “terrible choice” for the halftime show. Last year he watched the Super Bowl in the stadium, but this time he doesn’t want to be there. The venue is Santa Clara, California “too far away”.
Another reason could be that California is California. Trump has a particularly large number of opponents here. California is a Democratic stronghold.
The 60th Super Bowl will be played at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara
Muzzle for Bad Bunny?
Financial reasons may also have played a significant role in the NFL’s decision to host a halftime show with Bad Bunny. The NFL wants to grow internationally, especially in the Latin American fan base. Bad Bunny’s reach should help. Marissa Solis, the NFL’s marketing executive, told ESPN: “This is a community of more than 70 million people in the United States, so it was extremely important for us to be relevant.”
“Bad Bunny is one of the greatest artists in the world”praised NFL boss Goodell and at the same time sent a clear signal. He said the Super Bowl is not a place for divisive statements. Bad Bunny also “understood” this. It remains to be seen whether he will refrain from criticizing the current government. It wouldn’t be the first time that political messages found their way into the halftime show.
