Last month, the American tradition of the Super Bowl arrived, which is the most-watched program each year. It averages about 124.9 million viewers in the US at any given point. Bad Bunny, the Puerto Rican Latin Trap and Reggaeton artist, performed and drew in about 4 million more viewers than the game itself. However, many Americans were upset that a Spanish-speaking artist was performing at the biggest American sports event of the year, which led to a never-before-seen reaction: the creation of a separate halftime show. It was spearheaded by names such as Kid Rock, Lee Brice, Brantley Gilbert, and Gabby Barrett. It was funded by Charlie Kirk’s Turning Point USA, the conservative organization best known for its nationwide college tours and debates.
Trump and his administration did not make any official statements on the TPUSA show, though a tweet by the President may have revealed some underlying opinions. “The Super Bowl Halftime Show is absolutely terrible, one of the worst, EVER!” is a direct quote from Trump himself. “Nobody understands a word this guy is saying, and the dancing is disgusting, especially for youth and children that are watching from throughout the U.S.A., and all over the World. This ‘Show’ is just a ‘slap in the face’ to our Country…” Trump, who represents the entirety of the government, clearly holds disdain for at least Bad Bunny and his representation of Latino culture.
This reaction can reveal some true beliefs of the government, which lie just beneath the surface of this tweet. Claiming that no one could understand what he was saying was false. The United States does not have an official language, and while it is true that most of the country speaks English, over 40 million people speak Spanish. In years prior, many Latino singers, such as Shakira and J Balvin, have taken the stage. This, alongside spikes in aggression towards the Latin American community and nearly 70,000 people being detained by ICE, makes for an oppressive environment for the Hispanic population. This halftime show serves as a grim reminder of the rising hate towards the Latin American community.
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