Bad Bunny Misses Halftime Record; Kid Rock Confesses to Show Recording
Bad Bunny’s recent Halftime Show did not surpass Kendrick Lamar’s ratings record from 2025, according to reports. The Puerto Rican artist’s 13-minute performance garnered an impressive 128.2 million viewers. This figure places him fourth among the most-watched halftime shows in history.
Halftime Show Viewer Statistics
- Kendrick Lamar (2025): 133.5 million viewers
- Michael Jackson (1993): 133.4 million viewers
- Usher (2024): 129.3 million viewers
- Bad Bunny (2024): 128.2 million viewers
Bad Bunny’s energetic show embraced Puerto Rican culture, featuring multiple sets and guest appearances from stars like Lady Gaga and Ricky Martin. While his performance earned high praise, it also sparked controversy. Notably, former President Donald Trump criticized it, calling it “absolutely terrible” on Truth Social.
Kid Rock’s Pre-Taped Halftime Show
In contrast, Kid Rock faced backlash for pre-taping his halftime performance. Despite claiming he was not lip-synching, he admitted in a video that the show had been pre-recorded. This show, produced in collaboration with Turning Point USA, aimed to cater to MAGA supporters.
Kid Rock’s 35-minute performance drew comparisons to Bad Bunny’s live display, with allegations of lip-synching causing a stir online. Viewers noted discrepancies, particularly when Kid Rock’s vocals appeared out of sync during his opening number, “Bawitdaba.” In addressing these concerns, he stated the challenges with audio and video synchronization during the live event.
Performance Highlights and Reception
- Kid Rock’s show featured other artists, including Brantley Gilbert, Lee Brice, and Gabby Barrett.
- Gilbert opened with a guitar rendition of the “Star Spangled Banner.”
- Brice honored late conservative activist Charlie Kirk during his performance.
Before the live stream began, approximately 1.9 million viewers awaited Kid Rock’s show. This number spiked to over 6.1 million during the performance. However, this still paled in comparison to Bad Bunny’s viewership. Ultimately, TPUSA’s event accumulated over 18 million views, most of which occurred after Bad Bunny’s show concluded.
Despite the controversies surrounding both performances, Bad Bunny’s Halftime Show has undoubtedly left an indelible mark on music history and pop culture.
