Brock Purdy Igпites Firestorm Over NFL’s Bad Bυппy Halftime Decisioп
Posted October 7, 2025
The NFL thought it was rolling out an entertainment headline. Instead, it set off a political earthquake.
On Tuesday, the league proudly announced that global music superstar Bad Bunny would headline the Super Bowl 2026 Halftime Show.
Within hours, the focus shifted away from music to one of the most explosive controversies in recent NFL history courtesy of San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy.
Purdy’s Stunning Outburst
In a postgame media session, Purdy didn’t hold back.
His words detonated like dynamite, sparking outrage and debate across sports and culture.
“Bad Bunny is a Spanish-singing puppet of the Left, and the league has just declared war on America!” Purdy declared, his voice tight with frustration.
For a player usually known for his calm demeanor and measured tone, the tirade shocked reporters into silence.
What began as an innocuous announcement about halftime entertainment suddenly transformed into a cultural battlefield – one Purdy was all too willing to step into.
The NFL’s Halftime Gamble
The Super Bowl Halftime Show has always been one of the most-watched events in American entertainment.
In recent years, the league has sought to expand its reach by booking international megastars: Rihanna, Shakira, J Balvin, and now Bad Bunny.
Bad Bunny, a Puerto Rican reggaeton and Latin trap sensation, has sold out stadiums across the globe and dominated charts in multiple languages.
His selection was intended to highlight the NFL’s growing international audience and celebrate diversity.
But for Purdy, and a vocal contingent of fans, the move represented something else entirely.
From Stage to Political Arena
Purdy accused the NFL of caving to cultural forces that he believes have politicized the sport.
His claim that the league was “bowing to Democratic propaganda” struck a nerve, instantly polarizing reactions.
Supporters hailed Purdy as a truth-teller, praising him for voicing frustrations about the NFL’s direction.
Detractors condemned his comments as xenophobic and divisive, arguing that Bad Bunny’s artistry transcends politics.
By midnight, hashtags like #PurdyVsNFL, #BadBunnyBowl, and #KeepPoliticsOutOfFootball were trending worldwide.
Fallout Inside the League
The NFL’s front office scrambled to manage the fallout.
League officials released a carefully worded statement defending the choice of Bad Bunny:
“The Super Bowl Halftime Show celebrates music, culture, and unity. Bad Bunny is one of the world’s most influential artists, and we are proud to have him headline.”
Privately, however, insiders admitted the uproar blindsided them.
Purdy’s comments weren’t just from a fringe player – they came from the face of the San Francisco 49ers franchise, one of the NFL’s rising stars, and a quarterback seen as a pillar for the league’s future.
49ers in the Crossfire
The San Francisco 49ers organization was thrust into crisis mode.
Purdy, their $240 million franchise quarterback, had effectively declared war on the league’s leadership.
Team officials reportedly urged Purdy to clarify his remarks, but the quarterback stood firm, telling one reporter, “I said what I said. Football is about America, not propaganda.”
For the 49ers, the situation is delicate.
Alienating their star quarterback risks implosion, but standing against the NFL risks fines, sanctions, and damaged relationships with the league.
The Music World Reacts
Bad Bunny himself has yet to respond directly, but the music industry erupted in solidarity.
Fellow artists, from Cardi B to Maluma, condemned Purdy’s words as an attack not just on Bad Bunny but on the presence of Latin artists in American culture.
One record executive called Purdy’s remarks “a slap in the face to millions of fans who love Bad Bunny’s music, regardless of politics.”
Others, however, admitted Purdy’s comments could fuel even greater interest in the halftime show.
“Like it or not, this controversy just made Super Bowl 2026 even bigger,” one industry insider noted.
Fans Divide Down the Middle
The fan response mirrored America’s broader cultural divides.
Supporters of Purdy: “He’s standing up for tradition. Football should unite Americans, not push an agenda.”
Supporters of Bad Bunny: “This is racism in disguise. Bad Bunny earned this spot, and Purdy is scared of change.”
At bars, online forums, and radio shows, the debate raged. For some, this was about music. For others, it was about culture, politics, and who truly owns the Super Bowl stage.
The Bigger Picture
Purdy’s outburst is more than just a one-day headline.
It’s a snapshot of the NFL’s struggle to balance tradition with globalization, patriotism with diversity, and football with entertainment.
The league wants the halftime show to reflect its growing international influence.
Purdy’s words reflect a fanbase that feels football should remain a uniquely American ritual, free from global pop stars and political undertones.
Caught in the middle are millions of fans who just want to watch the game without controversy – an increasingly impossible ask.
How to watch the Lightning for the 2025-26 season: TV channel, streaming info and more
Here’s every way the local market can tune into the Bolts game this season.
The Lightning kick off the 2025-26 regular season Thursday night with a matchup against the Ottawa Senators at Benchmark International Arena.
If you plan on catching the opener from home, though, we’re here to give you the rundown on every possible way to watch the Bolts throughout the regular season.
This season, the Lightning have teamed up with Scripps Sports to make Bolts broadcasts available to everyone across the Bay Area and beyond, making it more accessible than ever. Fans will have a number of ways to watch, including free over-the-air (with an HD antenna) as well as on cable and satellite. Or a digital streaming subscription on the Tampa Bay Lightning app. Here’s a further breakdown of how the local market can tune into Bolts games going forward.
Over-the-Air
Scripps’ The Spot: WXTP-TV Channel 66.1
Gone are the days of extending our rusted, stainless-steel rods from our television sets and pointing them to the heavens—navigating the perfect placement for the clearest picture.
Now, it’s a lot easier. And for the same price as a food delivery, you can purchase a sleek, HD TV antenna that will deliver picture-perfect Bolts hockey on Scripps’ The Spot: WXTP-TV Channel 66.1 in Tampa Bay (the channel varies by market).
There’s plenty of HD antennas out there at a variety of price points, but here’s a few good options to get started:
If you’re a classic cable watcher, the Bolts will still be there for every game broadcasted in the local market. Scripps, which owns Tampa Bay 28, the local ABC TV affiliate serving the bay area tv market, has launched The Spot – Tampa Bay 66 as the main broadcast home of the Lightning for Tampa Bay.
Here’s the channel breakdown for The Spot for each provider in the Tampa Bay area. If you're outside the Tampa Bay market, in Orlando or Gainesville per say, you can scroll down to the bottom of this article for the full market guide.
For the streamers, fans can live-stream games through the Tampa Bay Lightning app throughout the Bolts’ broadcast territory for $66/season. That’s less than a dollar a game if you’re counting. You can subscribe on your computer at TampaBayLightning.com/streamnow or mobile app for ease of sign-up, but the app can also be downloaded right on your Smart TV. Once downloaded, you can click on it just like Netflix, Hulu or any other app you might watch, and the game will be right in there—along with a slew of other Lightning-forward features.
The Lightning App is available on:
IOS Android Fire TV Google Play Store Apple TV Roku
Full Market Watch Guide
Lightning fans can also watch and stream the Bolts beyond Tampa Bay. Below you can find the broadcast and stream information for every local market in Florida, including Orlando, Gainesville, Tallahassee and more.
