Kid Rock has become the subject of intense online mockery following his performance at the Turning Point USA "All American Halftime Show," where he appeared to lip-sync his 1999 hit "Bawitdaba." The musician, a vocal supporter of Donald Trump, headlined the MAGA-friendly event, which was broadcast on YouTube as a protest against Bad Bunny's official Super Bowl halftime performance.
Performance Sparks Social Media Backlash
Clips from the show quickly circulated on social media platforms, with viewers noting that Kid Rock lowered his microphone away from his mouth while a pre-recorded version of the song continued to play. In several moments, his mouth movements did not match the audio, leading to accusations of blatant lip-syncing.
One critic on X-Twitter wrote, "Kid Rock is blatantly lip syncing, it's all prerecorded & he wasn't even trying." Another added, "Kid Rock forgets his lyrics during his song showing all the MAGA Far Right that he wasn't even singing. What a complete and utter embarrassment." A third commenter stated, "Kid Rock couldn't even be bothered to sing live. Instead, some truly awful lip-syncing."
Turning Point USA's Alternative Show
Turning Point USA, founded by the late far-right commentator Charlie Kirk, announced its alternative halftime show in October 2025. The organization cited mounting conservative criticism over the selection of Bad Bunny, a Puerto Rican rapper, as the official Super Bowl halftime performer.
Kid Rock explained that the event was designed for conservative Americans to celebrate their patriotism, claiming that right-wing views are underrepresented in mainstream media. "There's a big portion of this country, like it or not, that's underserved entertainment-wise," he said. "We're just [going to] go play for our base. You know, people who love America, love football, love Jesus."
Viewership and Political Reactions
The Turning Point USA show, believed to have been pre-recorded in Atlanta, attracted an average of four to five million viewers. This figure pales in comparison to the over 120 million viewers who tuned in to watch Bad Bunny's star-studded performance at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, which featured appearances by Lady Gaga, Ricky Martin, Cardi B, Pedro Pascal, and Jessica Alba, as well as a real-life wedding.
Despite the lower viewership, the concert video has been viewed 18 million times on YouTube, with many noting they clicked out of curiosity. The White House expressed support for the show by reposting a video on social media, and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth wrote on X that his family had tuned in.
President Trump also criticized the official Super Bowl halftime show on Truth Social, calling it "absolutely terrible" and "one of the worst, EVER!" However, a YouGov America survey released on Friday found that 35 percent of respondents preferred Bad Bunny's show, compared to 28 percent who were more interested in the Kid Rock-headlined event.
Super Bowl Outcome
This year's Super Bowl saw the Seattle Seahawks triumph over the New England Patriots by 29 points to 13, securing their second-ever victory. The game took place amidst the controversy surrounding the halftime performances, highlighting the cultural and political divisions reflected in the competing shows.
