Kid Rock has faced mockery on social media after appearing to lip-sync during an alternative Super Bowl halftime show organised by Turning Point USA (TPUSA). The event, which was broadcast on YouTube at the same time as Bad Bunny’s official performance, was intended as a conservative protest against the Puerto Rican rapper’s selection.
Clips from the performance show the 55-year-old musician miming through his 1999 hit “Bawitdaba”. Observers noted that a pre-recorded track continued playing while he lowered his microphone, and at several points his mouth movements did not match the audio. Social media users described the performance as “embarrassing” and accused him of “blatant lip syncing”.
Turning Point USA, founded by the late far-right commentator Charlie Kirk, announced the alternative show last October after conservative criticism of Bad Bunny’s role in the Super Bowl halftime lineup. Kid Rock, a vocal supporter of Donald Trump, said the event was designed to celebrate patriotism and cater to underserved conservative audiences.
The official Super Bowl halftime show featured Bad Bunny alongside Lady Gaga, Ricky Martin, and Cardi B, and included a real-life wedding. In contrast, TPUSA’s event peaked at 6.1 million viewers, a fraction of the 120 million who watched Bad Bunny. A YouGov America survey found that 35 per cent of respondents preferred Bad Bunny’s show, compared to 28 per cent for Kid Rock.
Despite the White House and some Trump allies expressing support for the TPUSA show, President Trump called the official halftime performance “absolutely terrible” on Truth Social. However, the majority of American viewers appeared to prefer the mainstream broadcast.
