The Super Bowl is an escape from a harsh reality and is a moment in culture that emphasizes a shared experience in entertainment. Some wait for the halftime show, some turn their attention to the commercial breaks, and some watch for their pure enjoyment of the game. But the average viewer last Sunday couldn’t ignore the event’s political influence.

This year’s halftime show was one of the most divisive halftime shows ever. Headlined by Bad Bunny, it showcased a predominantly Spanish set that celebrated Latin culture and featured surprise appearances by Lady Gaga and Ricky Martin. Bad Bunny has been very vocal in speaking out against ICE and even canceled US tour dates in fear of raids. The performance was met with significant conservative backlash online before it even began.

In response to the announcement that Bad Bunny would headline this year’s halftime show, conservative organization Turning Point USA organized an alternate “All-American Halftime Show” that streamed during the same window as the NFL’s official performance. Headlined by Kid Rock and a lineup of country artists, the event aimed to offer a patriotic alternative that would “celebrate faith, family, and freedom,” according to a statement from Turning Point USA spokesperson Andrew Kolvet.

“The fact that there was an “alternative” show streamed during his performance is disappointing,” CHS senior Sophia Manno said. “He put on a great show and people didn’t give it the time of day just because he was speaking a language other than English.”   

The alternate halftime show peaked at 5 million viewers, far below Bad Bunny’s average of 128 million. Despite this huge gap, the existence of Turning Point USA’s halftime show emphasizes how politicized entertainment has become in recent years.

“It’s very weird,” Natalie Tabatabai, CHS senior, had to say. “It’s an extremity that has never taken place before at the Super Bowl.”

The extreme security surrounding the stadium added to the charged atmosphere of Super Bowl LX. Federal, state, and local law enforcement executed extensive preparations: coordinating flight restrictions, checkpoints, bomb-sniffing units, and multi-agency patrols around Levi’s Stadium. Despite promises from the Trump Administration, ICE was not in attendance.