Newsom Slams Kid Rock After Halftime Show Criticism

Gavin Newsom reignited his months-long feud with Kid Rock this week, publicly mocking the musician after conservative pundits criticized the NFL’s choice to function Bad Bunny because the 2026 Super Bowl halftime headliner at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California.

The newest jab got here after right-wing commentator Nick Adams posted on X, previously Twitter, “Kid Rock and Jason Aldean would have made a great Super Bowl Halftime show. Bad Bunny will just further divide the American people.” Newsom’s press workplace fired again with a pointy response: “Wrong. Kid Rock has been INDEFINITELY SUSPENDED from performing in California and as such he cannot perform at Super Bowl LX!!!”

Newsom has leaned closely right into a daring on-line persona, usually utilizing sarcasm and meme-style posts to troll conservative figures. On September 20, he posted in all caps, “BECAUSE OF HIS HORRIFIC music, CALIFORNIA WILL INDEFINITELY SUSPEND KID ROCK FROM PERFORMING IN THE GOLDEN STATE. YOU’RE WELCOME! — GCN.”

That wasn’t the primary time Newsom focused the Detroit-born rocker. Over the summer time, his staff shared a faux campaign-style picture studying, “Kid Rock Wants You to Support Governor Newsom.” Kid Rock responded with a jab of his personal, writing, “The only support Gavin Newscum will ever get out of me is from DEEZ NUTZ.”

Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl Role Draws Political Fire

The controversy facilities on the NFL’s selection of Bad Bunny to headline the halftime present on February 8, 2026. Critics on the fitting declare the Puerto Rican reggaeton star is a divisive determine, pointing to his previous critiques of U.S. immigration enforcement. But the league’s choice seemingly displays his international recognition greater than politics. Bad Bunny constantly ranks among the many most streamed artists on the earth and has offered out arenas throughout North and South America.

Newsom’s Digital Tactics Are Getting Noticed

Newsom’s aggressive on-line method has grow to be a defining a part of his political picture. Since Donald Trump’s return to the nationwide highlight, the California governor has embraced what some analysts describe as “dark woke” messaging — a mixture of trolling, memes and exaggerated rhetoric aimed toward conservative influencers.

According to NBC News, political strategists view Newsom’s social media ways as a calculated check to see whether or not Democrats can compete in the identical digital areas lengthy dominated by Republicans.

Culture Wars Continue Around Super Bowl Halftime Shows

The backlash towards Bad Bunny suits a sample seen with earlier Super Bowl performers. Beyoncé, Lady Gaga and The Weeknd all confronted criticism from conservative voices in previous years. The NFL, nevertheless, continues to function international artists who enchantment to youthful and extra numerous audiences.

Political Stakes Behind the Online Feud

For Newsom, the spat with Kid Rock isn’t nearly music. It’s a strategy to increase his nationwide profile as hypothesis builds round a possible 2028 presidential run. By clashing with high-profile conservative figures, Newsom seems to be positioning himself as a digital-era foil to Trump’s affect.

The NFL’s Super Bowl broadcast, which pulls greater than 100 million viewers yearly, stays probably the most seen phases in American tradition. With the 2026 recreation nonetheless greater than a 12 months away, anticipate extra political voices to weigh in.

The halftime present that includes Bad Bunny is scheduled for February 8, 2026, at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara.

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