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Kid Rock has stepped forward to address recent buzz surrounding his performance of “Bawitdaba” during the Turning Point USA halftime show. Speculation arose that the rocker was lip-synching, prompting him to clarify the situation.
Speaking on Fox News’ The Ingraham Angle, the 55-year-old musician explained, “My DJ, who actually raps that song with me, was not lit up.” He continued, “I’m jumping around the stage like a rabid monkey, rapping my song, and I’m taking breaths, and my DJ is filling in the other parts of it.”
The conversation about his performance heated up on social media, with many questioning whether Kid Rock was singing live. He acknowledged that the Turning Point USA All-American Halftime Show, which aired on Sunday, February 8, was in fact prerecorded.
“I even told them when I saw the rough cut, I was like, ‘You guys got to work on that sync. It’s off,’” Kid Rock shared. He further elaborated, “So it was just a syncing issue that they had, and I know they tried to get it right. It was very difficult.”
This controversy unfolded as Zach Bryan entered the fray, voicing his disapproval over Turning Point USA’s decision to stage a competing event against Bad Bunny’s official Super Bowl halftime performance in 2026. Bryan criticized the rival show, stating, “I don’t care what side you’re on, a bunch of adults throwing temper tantrums and their own halftime show is embarrassing as hell and the most cringe s*** on…”
Turning Point USA, the conservative political organization cofounded by the late Charlie Kirk, put together their inaugural halftime show as counterprogramming against Bad Bunny, who performed the halftime show at Super Bowl LX.
Kid Rock said he watched Bad Bunny’s performance, acknowledging he “didn’t understand any of it.”
“I saw there’s a lot of dancers and a lot of big to-do stuff,” he told host Laura Ingraham. “And, you know, he said he wanted to have a dance party. It looked like he had one.”
He continued, “Not my cup of tea, but I don’t fault that kid for doing the Super Bowl, getting in front of a global audience. I fault the NFL for putting him in that position and Turning Point for having to come out and have an alternative for people to watch. You know, it’s just … poor kid.”
In addition to Kid Rock, the Turning Point USA halftime show featured performances from country artists Lee Brice, Brantley Gilbert and Gabby Barrett.
Bad Bunny’s halftime show has become an exhaustive talking point for many conservative politicians, who have criticized the Puerto Rican superstar for performing entirely in Spanish.
Jill Zarin’s daughter, Ally Shapiro, defended Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl halftime show after her mom posted and deleted a video trashing the performance. “IMO I loved it [so much],” Shapiro wrote via her Instagram Story on Monday, February 9, alongside a clip from the show. “The cinematography was fantastic. It was like they put filter […]
“The Super Bowl Halftime Show is absolutely terrible, one of the worst, EVER!” President Donald Trump posted on social media platform Truth Social right after Bad Bunny’s performance. “It makes no sense, is an affront to the Greatness of America, and doesn’t represent our standards of Success, Creativity, or Excellence. Nobody understands a word this guy is saying, and the dancing is disgusting, especially for young children that are watching from throughout the U.S.A., and all over the World.”
Trump, 79, continued, “This ‘Show’ is just a ‘slap in the face’ to our Country, which is setting new standards and records every single day — including the Best Stock Market and 401(k)s in History! There is nothing inspirational about this mess of a Halftime Show and watch, it will get great reviews from the Fake News Media, because they haven’t got a clue of what is going on in the REAL WORLD.”
Despite the controversy, Bad Bunny’s performance has been lauded by many, including guest star Lady Gaga.
“Thank you Benito for including me in this powerful, important, and meaningful performance,” Gaga, 39, wrote via Instagram on Monday. “I am so humbled to be a part of this moment.”