Megyn Kelly blames Barack Obama for Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl halftime show
NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: Megyn Kelly voiced strong criticism of former President Barack Obama Tuesday, claiming he is behind the selection of Puerto Rican reggaeton star Bad Bunny for the 2026 Super Bowl halftime show.
Kelly argued the choice reflects a push by Obama to promote “woke ideology” at major cultural events, using the halftime stage to advance a political agenda.
Megyn Kelly calls halftime show ‘slap in the face’
“This is a deliberate choice, a way of telling conservatives across the country, ‘We don’t care what you think,’” Kelly said, criticizing both the NFL and Roc Nation, the entertainment company run by rapper Jay-Z, which selects halftime performers.
She accused organizers of turning the Super Bowl into a platform for political and cultural messaging rather than music.
“They’re just trying to shove woke ideology down America’s throat,” Kelly added, pointing to Bad Bunny’s past drag performances and gender-fluid identity.
Barack Obama dragged into halftime controversy
Kelly and her panel went further, linking the halftime selection directly to former President Barack Obama, citing his close friendship with Jay-Z.\
“Jay-Z is Barack Obama’s best friend,” one panelist said, while Kelly agreed, framing the partnership as part of a broader cultural agenda
"Why wouldn’t this be part of the bigger cultural project?” she added, even speculating that other artists close to Jay-Z, like Sean “Diddy” Combs, could follow.
Bad Bunny’s politics spark backlash
Bad Bunny, whose real name is Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, has often spoken out on behalf of Latino communities and criticized U.S. immigration enforcement.
He has recalled that “ICE could be outside” his concerts and expressed concern for Hispanic fans during mass deportations.
After the Super Bowl announcement, Bad Bunny framed his performance as a cultural milestone.
“This is for my people, my culture, and our history,” he said.
Kelly dismissed those remarks as political posturing. “If this is what fans are going to be subjected to—drag routines and anti-American speeches—people will walk out,” she predicted, quipping she’d rather see Roseanne Barr sing the national anthem.
Conservatives brace for Super Bowl culture clash
The halftime show announcement has already ignited fierce debate.
For Kelly, the controversy is not just about music but about who sets the cultural agenda in America.
“It’s the same playbook we’ve seen before,” she said.
“Use entertainment to push a political agenda, and when conservatives object, call them intolerant.”
With months to go before kickoff, Kelly warned that handing the stage to Bad Bunny symbolizes elite-driven cultural manipulation orchestrated by figures like Jay-Z and, ultimately, Barack Obama.
