Turning Point USA to Host Another Alternative Halftime Show Next Year
Turning Point USA, a conservative nonprofit established by Charlie Kirk, announced plans to replicate its alternative halftime show next year following the success of its recent event. The organization aims to provide a counter-narrative to the mainstream entertainment typically associated with the Super Bowl.
In response to Bad Bunny's halftime performance, Turning Point orchestrated an “All-American” concert featuring prominent conservative artists like Kid Rock. This event aired concurrently with the NFL's halftime show, catering to viewers dissatisfied with the Puerto Rican artist's Spanish-language performance.
Shortly after the concert concluded, Andrew Kolvet, Turning Point's spokesperson, remarked on its success, stating, “We are going to commit to doing this again, next year.” He noted that the event had garnered “20 million viewers” across various social media platforms and speculated that the total could reach 50 million by the end of the day.
As of Monday afternoon, Turning Point's concert had approximately 20 million views on YouTube, although reports indicated around 6.1 million during the live stream. In contrast, while exact figures for the Super Bowl's halftime show remain unavailable, viewership is anticipated to exceed 100 million, as the last four Super Bowls achieved similar milestones according to Nielsen Holdings.
Official viewership statistics are expected to be released Tuesday afternoon via NBC. Meanwhile, Bad Bunny's performance video had accumulated over 26 million views on YouTube by Monday afternoon.
Last year's Super Bowl set a record as the most-watched game ever, attracting more than 127 million viewers. This year's numbers could potentially surpass that, especially given Bad Bunny's status as the most-streamed artist worldwide.
However, some conservatives, including former President Donald Trump, criticized the NFL for selecting Bad Bunny due to his Spanish-language performance—an issue that resonates amid ongoing immigration debates in the U.S. Trump's administration has focused on strict immigration enforcement targeting undocumented individuals from Central and Latin America.
The NFL and Roc Nation's choice of Bad Bunny has been interpreted by some as a political statement supporting immigrants during a tumultuous period. Yet, it is likely that his selection was primarily based on his immense global popularity.
Kolvet anticipates that Turning Point's online viewership will continue to grow as more people access the stream on YouTube and other platforms. He expressed enthusiasm for next year's event, emphasizing its significance: “If you give us a year to plan this thing. I’m really excited to see what we can pull off. But we gotta do it for the country.”
He further asserted that Turning Point’s “All-America” alternative halftime show was designed to reflect Kirk’s vision of uplifting national ideals rather than diminishing them.
In contrast, Bad Bunny's Super Bowl performance emphasized unity across the Americas, featuring messages such as “Together, we are America” and “The only thing that's more powerful than hate is love.”
