For decades, the NFL Super Bowl has been a yearly sports event that all football fans anticipate. The tension-filled competition between the two teams, the commercials and the halftime show have become staples in American culture. 

However, as of recently, the halftime show has become one of the most popular events of the year, sometimes overshadowing the game itself. 

Throughout the years, many big names have given performances at the Super Bowl, such as Michael Jackson, Prince and Beyoncé. It has been a stage the world’s most popular artists to perform and entertain millions. 

Last year, there was a bit of a turn from the traditional format of a big superstar singer. Instead, Kendrick Lamar was chosen to perform for the show, right after his rap beef with Drake, elevating him to a new level of popularity. 

Many were interested to see how Lamar would handle the Super Bowl spotlight, and he ended up using it to create symbolism and nods towards the injustice and prejudice Black Americans face on the daily. 

Lamar’s voicing of struggles through his most popular songs created a political statement that the Super Bowl had yet to see on such a large scale. Kendrick also addressed lawsuits he was facing by stating: “I want to play their favorite song, but you know they love to sue.” 

For many, Lamar’s performance was a success, but others dismissed the performance as nothing more than “gangster rap.” 

Not long after, it was announced that Bad Bunny would be performing the 2026 Super Bowl halftime, at a time when the presence of Immigration and Customs Enforcement is increasing under the Trump administration. 

Bad Bunny is one of the most popular Latin artists in the world, and his songs consist of only Spanish lyrics. Many were curious to see if he would create a political statement against ICE or if he’d take a less direct approach. 

Some people downplayed Bad Bunny’s influence, arguing that he should not be performing because he is not from the mainland United States. Notably, Turning Point USA decided to feature their own alternative halftime show, headlined by Kid Rock. 

The alternative halftime show earned more than 6 million live viewers on YouTube. Andrew Kolvet, a Turning Point USA spokesman, summed up the halftime show’s purpose: “The All-American Halftime Show is an opportunity for all Americans to enjoy a halftime show with no agenda other than to celebrate faith, family, and freedom…” 

Bad Bunny’s performance was not a direct political statement, but instead an appreciation for all cultures and people in the Americas. A screen at the end of his performance displayed the phrase, “The only thing more powerful than hate is love.” 

This begs the question about how political the Super Bowl really is. The inclusion of Green Day was another choice that made viewers curious about possible statements, but there weren’t any major uproars made during the band’s performance. 

Green Day has an extensive history of criticizing the American government and recently changed lyrics in some of their songs to reflect their disapproval of the “MAGA agenda.” The political lines were not included when they opened for the Super Bowl. 

There was a rumor that Billie Joe Armstrong, the lead singer of Green Day, attempted to shout a rude remark about ICE between song lyrics, but the broadcasters cut his microphone in case he attempted to go off script. 

This recent Super Bowl has shown that there has been a new trend of messaging that hasn’t been seen in the sport’s extensive history. Both conservative and liberal viewers have created their own ideas on what should or should not be performed. 

The performance has become an avenue for messages and ideas, something I do not think is necessarily harmful. Not everyone will agree with whoever is performing, either because of their music or political statements. 

At the end of the day, it is just a performance. It is an event where people can sit back and relax after watching the two competing teams shove each other to win the Lombardi Trophy.  

Whether or not you agree with an artist, they should have the chance to spread a message instead of just performing their most popular hits before walking off the biggest stage of their career.