Newsom Declares ‘Bad Bunny Day’ on Super Bowl Sunday as Singer Headlines Halftime Show, Trolls Kid Rock
California Gov. Gavin Newsom has turned this year’s Super Bowl halftime show into a pointed political moment, announcing that Sunday, Feb. 8, will be celebrated as “Bad Bunny Day” in California – while taking unmistakable jabs at conservative backlash and Kid Rock.
In a series of tongue-in-cheek posts from his official press office account on X, Newsom praised Bad Bunny, the global superstar set to headline the Super Bowl LX halftime show, applauding his “soothing, beautiful voice” and even joking about his “very nice looks.” The posts were written in all caps, mimicking the distinctive online style of Donald Trump.
AS MANY PEOPLE KNOW, I AM A TREMENDOUS LOVER OF “THE SPANISH.” IT IS A BEAUTIFUL LANGUAGE SPOKEN BY MANY BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE IN THE GREAT STATE OF CALIFORNIA AND ACROSS THE WORLD. I AM ALSO A HUGE FAN OF PUERRRRRRRTO RICO. THAT IS WHY I AM DECLARING TOMORROW IN CALIFORNIA AS “BAD…
— Governor Newsom Press Office (@GovPressOffice) February 7, 2026
“As many people know, I am a tremendous lover of ‘THE SPANISH,’” the post read, celebrating Spanish as “a beautiful language spoken by many beautiful people in the great State of California and across the world.” The statement went on to praise Puerto Rico — where Bad Bunny is from — declaring that California would honor the singer on the day he performs at the Super Bowl.
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“We love Bad Bunny! He is nearly as ‘hot’ as me, which is a big compliment, because there is nobody ‘hotter,’” the post added, signing off as “Governor GCN.”
Newsom’s announcement comes amid conservative outrage over the NFL’s decision to feature Bad Bunny as the halftime performer. MAGA-aligned critics have complained that the Puerto Rican artist sings primarily in Spanish and has publicly criticized the Trump administration’s aggressive immigration enforcement policies. After the halftime show was announced, Trump dismissed the performer, saying he had “never heard of him” and calling the selection “absolutely ridiculous.”
In response, Turning Point USA is staging a rival livestreamed event, billed as “The All-American Halftime Show,” which will air online during the Super Bowl halftime. Kid Rock is slated to headline the TPUSA event, organized by conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
KID ROCK IS BANNED FROM CALIFORNIA. AND NOW HE IS BEING BANNED IN MORE PLACES. TERRIBLE MUSIC. WHY IS HE SO ANGRY? https://t.co/AZWkwXb2w2
— Governor Newsom Press Office (@GovPressOffice) February 7, 2026
Newsom’s press office used the opportunity to needle Kid Rock as well, pointing to turmoil surrounding his “Rock the Country” tour. Several artists have dropped out of the festival, including Shinedown, which recently became the fourth act to pull out, citing concerns about division.
“Kid Rock is banned from California. And now he is being banned in more places,” the governor’s office joked, adding, “Terrible music. Why is he so angry?” (Kid Rock is not actually banned from performing in California.)
Meanwhile, Bad Bunny’s cultural and commercial dominance continues to grow. He was the most-streamed artist on Spotify worldwide in 2025 and made history at the Grammy Awards earlier this year by becoming the first Spanish-language artist to win album of the year, for Debí Tirar Más Fotos.
Speaking to Apple Music ahead of the Super Bowl, Bad Bunny said his halftime performance would be “a huge party.” He also downplayed concerns about language barriers, encouraging viewers to focus less on Spanish lyrics and more on enjoying the moment.
“They don’t even have to learn Spanish,” he said. “It’s better if they learn to dance… the heartbeat dance. That’s the only thing they need to worry about and enjoy.”
With Newsom’s playful proclamation and conservatives mounting a counterprogramming effort, the Super Bowl halftime show has become an unlikely flashpoint in the broader cultural and political divide — one the California governor appears more than willing to lean into.
