Jon Stewart Calls Out Conservative Outrage Over Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl Performance
Jon Stewart didn’t hold back when addressing the backlash against Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl Halftime Present performance on Monday’s episode of The Daily Show. The comedian sharply criticized the conservative reaction, calling it “f–king pathetic” and questioning the right’s newfound sensitivity.
Stewart began the segment with a compilation of right-wing commentators, including Megyn Kelly and Benny Johnson, expressing their displeasure with the performance being largely in Spanish. He then contrasted this with a clip of Kid Rock performing his song “Bawitdaba,” which features a chorus of nonsensical lyrics. This juxtaposition highlighted what Stewart saw as a double standard.
The host likewise took aim at Turning Point USA’s alternative halftime show, featuring artists like Lee Brice and Kid Rock, staged concurrently with Bad Bunny’s performance. Stewart mocked Brice’s song “It Ain’t Easy Being Country,” pointing out the simplicity of its lyrics – “I just wanna catch my fish/drive my truck/drink my beer” and “I just wanna cut my grass/feed my dog/wear my boots.” He questioned the sincerity of Brice’s claims of facing oppression while enjoying such everyday comforts.
“When did the right become such f–kin p—ies?” Stewart asked, according to TheWrap. “Remember what you hated about liberals? Perpetually offended, safe spaces, censoring free speech, culture of victimhood. Remind you of anyone? ‘Oh, I can’t go 15 minutes without listening to country music. I need a separate show.’”
Stewart further connected the outrage over the Super Bowl performance to a recent incident involving Olympic skier Hunter Hess, who expressed “mixed emotions” about representing the U.S. Amid ongoing ICE raids. He argued that this wave of conservative discontent revealed a lack of confidence in their position of power.
“This whole culture war this weekend has really demonstrated one thing. It’s that for all of MAGA’s triumphalism, it’s not a movement that seems confident in its position,” Stewart said. “These people who control every branch of government are so triggered by someone singing in Spanish for 20 minutes, they need to create their own safe space alternative halftime show, where Trad Bunny over here is singing songs about how he can’t even enjoy sitting in a truck and drinking beer because he knows that somewhere out there, there’s a trans person.”
The comedian’s commentary comes as Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl performance continues to be a talking point, sparking debate about representation and cultural sensitivity in mainstream entertainment. The New York Times noted that late night hosts across the board discussed the dueling halftime shows.
Stewart’s remarks also follow a recent racist social media post by Donald Trump about the Obamas, adding to what he described as a “ridiculous weekend in America’s ongoing culture wars,” as reported by The Hollywood Reporter. The incident underscores the ongoing tensions between political ideologies and the evolving landscape of pop culture.
