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Kid Rock was accused of miming his way through the night. (Image: Getty)
What was meant to be a defiant, flag-waving alternative to the Super Bowl halftime show instead exploded into chaos as Kid Rock was accused of miming his way through the night. As millions of NFL fans turned away from NBC’s broadcast, many instead logged onto YouTube to watch Turning Point USA’s rival “All-American” halftime show, staged in protest at the NFL’s decision to hand the coveted slot to Puerto Rican rapper Bad Bunny.
In an unexpected twist during this year’s Super Bowl festivities, what was intended to serve as a patriotic counter-program to the NFL’s halftime show erupted into a storm of criticism. Kid Rock, who headlined Turning Point USA’s “All-American” halftime event, found himself at the center of a controversy over accusations of lip-syncing. As viewers switched channels from NBC’s coverage to YouTube, they were met with a performance that left many unimpressed.
Organized by the conservative group Turning Point USA, the alternative halftime show sought to protest the NFL’s choice of Puerto Rican rapper Bad Bunny for the main stage. Alongside Kid Rock, the event featured performances by country stars Brantley Gilbert, Lee Brice, and Gabby Barrett. However, it was Kid Rock’s performance that drew the sharpest criticism, as viewers flocked to social media to express their disapproval of what they perceived as a lackluster effort.
Comments flooded in, with one disgruntled viewer noting, “Kid Rock doesn’t even know how to lip sync, constantly putting the mic down during his lyrics. Embarrassing.” The sentiment echoed across various platforms, with another observer bluntly stating, “I dunno if it was just my feed, but man, Kid Rock sang like 9 words; the rest was backing track lip sync BS, and he didn’t even try to hide it by not having his mic near his mouth half the time.”
For some, the disappointment was personal, as one fan lamented, “I used to love Kid Rock back in high school, so this kinda sucks.” The criticism continued to pour in, punctuated by comments like, “The fact that Kid Rock couldn’t even lip sync his own song correctly is so embarrassing.”
Bad Bunny has already faced criticism ahead of the official halftime show (Image: Getty)
“I used to love Kid Rock back in HS so kinda sucks.” A third added bluntly: “the fact that kid rock couldn’t even lip sync his own song correctly is so embarrassing”.
Even some fans who otherwise enjoyed the show admitted the moment jarred, with one conceding: “Overall loved it minus the Kid Rock lip singing out of sync in the middle. It was great!”
Despite the intent to offer a spirited alternative, the event’s reception highlights the challenges artists face in meeting audience expectations, particularly when stepping into the spotlight during one of the year’s most-watched broadcasts.
Another insisted technical issues were to blame rather than the performer, posting: “Kid Rock doesn’t lip sync. He has been a Patriot long before it became a ‘thing’ to announce to the world.
“The stream couldn’t handle the views. Not a fan of TPUSA or Erika Fireworks Kirk, but I loved the show.”
The broadcast opened with a dedication from the host, telling viewers: “this one’s for you Charlie,” in tribute to Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk, who was murdered in September.
A dramatic rendition of the Stars and Stripes followed, as live stream numbers surged past three million.
Brantley took to the stage first, performing in front of a small live audience, before Gabby impressed with her vocals and Lee brought his trademark country sound to proceedings.
Kid Rock closed the show, initially appearing in shorts as his on-stage persona before being introduced by his real name, Robert Ritchie, for a stripped-back acoustic segment.
At the end of the performance, cameras pulled back to reveal images of Charlie, his wife Erica and their children, alongside the words: “In Remembrance of Charlie Kirk.”
Bad Bunny, meanwhile, had already faced criticism ahead of the official halftiame show, with Donald Trump previously remarking: “I don’t know who he is. I don’t know why they’re doing it. It’s crazy.
“And then they blame it on some promoter they hired to pick up entertainment. I think it’s absolutely ridiculous.”