RM Pete Hegseth Explodes Over Super Bowl Lineup: “This Isn’t America’s Game Anymore—it’s a Joke!”
Washington, D.C. — November 2, 2025 — A political firestorm is raging after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth launched a furious tirade over the NFL’s decision to feature Bad Bunny as the 2026 Super Bowl halftime headliner. What began as an on-air rant quickly spiraled into a full-blown culture war—one stretching from Fox News studios to the heart of America’s biggest sporting event.
During an October 2 appearance on Hannity, the 45-year-old Fox host–turned–Trump cabinet member went off on the NFL’s announcement that Bad Bunny (Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio) would perform during Super Bowl LX on February 8, 2026, at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California.
“This isn’t America’s game anymore—it’s a farce!” Hegseth shouted, visibly angry under the studio lights. “They’re putting a man in a dress on the national stage. That’s an insult to every real fan of this country. If the NFL won’t fix it, I will—I’ll create The All-American Halftime Show, for patriots who still love the flag.”
His jab at the Puerto Rican megastar’s gender-fluid fashion—referencing Bad Bunny’s history of wearing skirts and dresses—sparked immediate backlash and applause in equal measure. Bunny, a chart-dominating Latin pop icon with over 8 billion Spotify streams and a Time 100 honor, has long embraced bold, boundary-breaking looks.
Hegseth’s four-minute outburst tapped into an undercurrent of MAGA outrage. Since the NFL’s September 30 announcement, prominent Trump allies like Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem have threatened “ICE enforcement” at the game, while Newsmax’s Greg Kelly called for a total boycott, accusing Bunny of “hating America, hating Trump, hating English.”
Social media soon lit up. The hashtag #BoycottBadBunny trended for hours, while memes mocked Hegseth as “Secretary of Salt.” Conservative pundits piled on—though not all their claims held up. A viral quote from Elon Musk threatening to “end sponsorship” turned out to be fake, as did alleged boycott threats from Coca-Cola’s CEO and Steelers owner Art Rooney II. Still, Hegseth doubled down online, tweeting:
“The Super Bowl should bring America together—not shove woke propaganda down our throats.”
By October 3, his “All-American” show proposal had 2.3 million views, inspiring petitions for a Toby Keith or Lee Greenwood tribute—“no Spanish-singing puppets of the Left,” as one supporter put it.
NFL Fires Back—Hard
But the NFL’s counterpunch came swiftly. In a terse but stinging statement, Commissioner Roger Goodell defended the league’s choice and threw shade right back:
“The Super Bowl halftime show celebrates the diversity and global reach of American culture—from Michael Jackson to Shakira. Bad Bunny, with 50 million monthly listeners worldwide, embodies that. We stand by our artists and invite Secretary Hegseth to join us in Santa Clara—not to lecture, but to enjoy the game with 191 million Americans.”
The closing line hit even harder:
“P.S. Tickets are on sale—bring your own dress code.”
The jab instantly went viral. Late-night comedians had a field day. Jimmy Kimmel mocked, “Pete’s mad about a skirt? Funny coming from a guy who wears more camo than a duck blind.” On The Daily Show, Ronny Chieng joked, “If Hegseth wants an ‘All-American’ show, fine—let him perform ‘Y.M.C.A.’ in fatigues.”
Bad Bunny Claps Back with Style
Just days later, during his October 4 SNL hosting gig, Bad Bunny fired back with his trademark cool confidence. Opening his monologue in a shimmering poncho, he grinned:
“I’m performing at the Super Bowl, and I’m very happy. Everyone is happy—even Fox News. And if you didn’t understand what I just said, you have four months to learn.”
The audience erupted as he broke into an a cappella version of Callaíta, giving a cheeky middle finger to critics. SNL doubled down in its cold open, featuring Colin Jost as an unhinged Hegseth ranting about “woke threats,” interrupted by James Austin Johnson’s Trump warning, “Pete, careful—Daddy’s watching.”
Fallout and Aftershocks
The controversy, rather than hurting the NFL, turned into marketing gold. According to StubHub, ticket sales jumped 27% overnight, with Puerto Rican fans leading the surge. Apple Music released a viral promo declaring, “From the King of Pop to the King of Trap—Super Bowl evolves.”
Meanwhile, insiders say Hegseth is shopping his “All-American Halftime” idea to News Corp, rumored to feature Ted Nugent and “zero Spanish lyrics.” Critics like The Atlantic’s Elaine Godfrey called the feud “a new round of MAGA grievance Olympics,” warning it risks alienating younger NFL fans—nearly 40% of whom stream Bad Bunny’s music regularly.
The Bigger Picture
As February approaches, this isn’t just halftime drama—it’s a snapshot of America’s ongoing identity clash: patriotism versus pluralism, pop culture versus politics.
Whether Hegseth’s outrage fizzles or sparks a lasting divide, one thing’s clear—Bad Bunny remains unfazed. As he told SNL’s crew backstage:
“The haters? They watch anyway. That’s the American way.”
So—what’s your take? Is Hegseth right that the Super Bowl’s lost its soul, or is Bad Bunny’s set the bold step forward America needs?
