Gavin Newsom Declares ‘Bad Bunny Day’ Ahead of Super Bowl
California Gov. Gavin Newsom has proclaimed February 8 as “Bad Bunny Day,” issuing the declaration on Saturday ahead of Super Bowl Sunday in Santa Clara, where the Puerto Rican superstar is set to headline the halftime show. The move lands as the game draws heavy political scrutiny, including chatter about immigration enforcement around the event and criticism from some conservatives over Bad Bunny’s planned all-Spanish-language performance.
In a post written in a deliberately tongue-in-cheek tone, Deadline reported that Newsom’s office described the day as a celebration of Bad Bunny’s “soothing, beautiful voice” and even leaned into a Trump-style cadence while needling MAGA backlash tied to the halftime booking.
The Deadline story also notes that Bad Bunny, born Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, has positioned himself publicly as an immigration-rights advocate and recently used an awards-show moment to denounce ICE and dehumanising rhetoric. The piece adds that President Donald Trump has criticised the halftime selection and said he plans to watch the game on television rather than attend in person, while Newsom intends to be at the stadium.
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 announcement also referenced the parallel “All-American Halftime Show” promoted by Turning Point USA and took aim at Kid Rock, who has become a frequent lightning rod in California political battles. Alternative Nation previously covered Newsom’s jab that Kid Rock ‘can’t perform’ at the Super Bowl, a line that the governor’s camp has since continued to repeat as the rival event gets attention online.
With Super Bowl LX scheduled for Sunday afternoon on NBC and streaming on Peacock, the declaration effectively turns the halftime show into a broader cultural flashpoint, placing Bad Bunny’s set at the centre of a conversation that now blends pop spectacle, politics, and the NFL’s push to expand its reach with Latino audiences.
