Football fans do not watch the Super Bowl for the halftime show; we watch for the football. However, for years now, the NFL has sought to make the Super Bowl halftime show some kind of main event spectacle. Interestingly, they have perennially failed miserably. Almost every year, the halftime show reviews are pitiful; few are satisfied. It seems headlining the Super Bowl halftime show is a very risky career move for entertainers, because the response is often negative.

One question is why the NFL persists in trying to produce an international music event each year when producing a good football game seems to be challenging enough. Presumably, the NFL is simply trying to increase viewership. They hype the new commercials to get people curious to see the new innovative commercials which this year also disappointed, most were plain stupid. Folks wanting to see the concert are typically not that interested in the game, so getting non-football fans to tune in for the halftime concert increases viewership which boosts ad revenues.

Sadly, the media is constantly trying to foment controversy by exploiting our politically polarized nation, so everything from football to the halftime show is scrutinized through a political prism. The NFL’s purpose is to promote football, but often the halftime shows’ response eclipses the game. After the Seattle Seahawks lopsided blowout of the New England Patriots, no one is talking about the game; Americans are instead debating the appropriateness of the halftime show.

Most Americans did not know anything about Bad Bunny when the NFL booked him a few months ago. We first learned he is a cross-dressing Spanish language rapper; apparently there is an appetite for that genre since he just won the 2026 Grammy for best album. Or was his award to validate his appearance at the Super Bowl? Regardless, he has a following and talent.

Bad Bunny’s music seems to be an acquired taste, but the show was visually interesting with color and dance. Fans argue it was a showcase of Puerto Rican and all Hispanic culture, which is fine; Americans appreciate our diverse ethnicities and various heritages. However, the vast majority of Americans could not understand the lyrics, because it was entirely in Spanish. Songs in other languages are innocuous in of themselves, but why were all the songs in Spanish?

Why was there not a mix of Spanish and English to appeal to all viewers? Or was that the point, to exclude English speakers? It was a bit in your face—almost like English is not spoken here. Author Lionel Shriver wondered was the all-Spanish show a warning that we are closer to “Press two for English” than we think?

If the Super Bowl halftime show was merely a salute to Puerto Rico, why were all the other Hispanic national flags included? Why was the focus not just on Puerto Rico as an American territory? Twice as many Puerto Ricans live in the United States than on the island. The flag bearers ran around a lot with at least the American flag in front, but was the American flag leading? At times, it looked more like the other countries were chasing Old Glory. Chasing us out of parts of the US? That may be an over analysis, but when we learn that Bad Bunny opposes white people purchasing property in Puerto Rico perhaps not.

Bad Bunny fans will simply say enjoy the good music, and the Washington Post scolded critics that it was a “wholesome” halftime show. However, the translation of his lyrics is too graphic and vulgar to publish in this space; his songs are generally filthy and provocative.

The problem with single genre-focused entertainment for a very diverse large audience is it becomes exclusive not inclusive which seems counter to the NFL’s goal to reach more people. It’s unfortunate that we must wonder if the objective was to divide people, but the NFL’s obsession with appeasing everyone sows division as evidenced by the NFL including the Black National Anthem.

Obviously, the NFL would argue the Black National Anthem was intended to be inclusive, but the mere fact that any group has their own National Anthem is racial segregation and essentially insinuates black Americans are not necessarily included so they need their own anthem. All citizens of the United States are Americans regardless of their color, creed, race, or ethnicity; any subdivisions of that whole are just that – divisions.

All Americans come to citizenship from a multitude of origin stories, but we all coalesce around the same core values that God granted our rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Diversity is entertaining and interesting, but it is not a strength. Our strength comes from a people cherishing and defending shared values regardless of diversity.

For years, American children were taught that America is a huge “melting pot” where people come from around the world with widely varied backgrounds, but they all become Americans by swearing allegiance to our Constitution to preserve freedom. Sadly, leftists in education, entertainment, and information teach that America is a buffet where you just take what you want and leave the rest – there is no binding common culture just endless diversity.

Freedom should be our common goal, but it’s only attainable if everyone accepts that our rights come from God. Therefore, only Jesus Christ can truly unite us because our rights only come from Him. Diversity is fine for a buffet, but a Constitutional Republic must be a melting pot.

“By the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ I appeal to all of you, my friends, to agree in what you say, so that there will be no divisions among you. Be completely united, with only one thought and one purpose” (1 Corinthians 1:10).

Pete Riehm is a Navy Veteran, conservative activist, and columnist in south Alabama. Email him at peteriehm@bellsouth.net or read all his columns at http://www.renewamerica.com/.