The announcement that Puerto Rican superstar Bad Bunny will headline the Super Bowl LX halftime show has triggered one of the most unusual cultural reactions in recent memory. On one side, fans hail this as a landmark for Latinx and Spanish-language artistry on the biggest U.S. entertainment stage. On the other side, critics claim the choice undermines the “traditional” American narrative surrounding the National Football League’s premier event.
Adding fuel to the fire is a claim that basketball legend Michael Jordan intends to boycott the game if Bad Bunny performs — aligning himself with conservative organisation Turning Point USA and its founder Charlie Kirk. However, no credible evidence supports this claim.
Bad Bunny’s selection was officially announced for February 8, 2026, at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California — the first time a solo Latin-language artist has headlined a Super Bowl halftime show. This moment is widely celebrated for elevating Latin culture to one of the most visible global stages.
A tidal wave of reaction followed: some fans embraced the move, seeing it as overdue recognition of Latin pop’s influence in America; others condemned it, launching petitions and threats of boycotts, citing alleged “anti-American” sentiment. Social-media campaigns like “#BoycottBadBunny” trended among critics.
The contested headliner has become a cultural flashpoint, tied to issues of identity, language, representation and the meaning of “American” in the 21st-century entertainment landscape. Simultaneously, alternative programming initiatives by conservative groups suggest the halftime show may be less about music and more about messaging.
Against that backdrop, the Michael Jordan boycott claim stands out as particularly dramatic — if true. But multiple major news outlets find no record of Jordan issuing a statement to that effect, nor of an alignment with Turning Point USA on this matter. It appears more likely to be social-media-driven speculation or misattribution rather than a verified position.
As Super Bowl LX draws near, watchers will be focusing less on the football and more on how the halftime show illustrates deeper cultural divides. The bad-bunny-boycott narrative — whether real or imagined — underscores how entertainment has become a frontline for broader debates about identity, patriotism and public performance.
Whether fans ultimately tune in or abstain, one thing is clear: this halftime show is about far more than music. It’s a moment where pop culture, politics and national identity collide. And while Michael Jordan’s supposed boycott may not be factual, the conversation he’s now tied into is very real.
