NEW YORK, NY (January 24, 2026) — The road to Super Bowl LX took a sharp and unprecedented detour into the culture wars on Saturday morning, plunging the National Football League into a state of crisis just weeks before kickoff. In a stunning public rebuke that has shattered the usually unified front of NFL ownership, Cincinnati Bengals owner Mike Brown has formally demanded that the league cancel Bad Bunny’s scheduled halftime performance.

The demand follows leaked reports that the global superstar plans to use the world’s biggest stage to stage a provocative tribute to LGBTQ+ icons, specifically highlighting drag culture and transgender history.

The controversy exploded after Brown, one of the league’s most traditional and influential figures, issued a blistering statement accusing the NFL of abandoning its core fanbase in favor of “performative politics.” 

The Quote That Stopped the League

“The Super Bowl is the pinnacle of athletic achievement, a day that belongs to the players, the teams, and the families who love this game,” Brown said in a statement released early Saturday. “It is not a platform for political experimentation or social engineering. We are hearing reports of a performance that has nothing to do with football and everything to do with division. I have to ask Commissioner Goodell: Is this football, or is this a circus?”

Brown’s “circus” comment has instantly become a lightning rod, polarizing fans and placing immense pressure on NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. It marks the first time in modern league history that a team owner has publicly called for the removal of a halftime headliner based on creative content.

The “Leaked” Performance Plans

The firestorm began late Friday night when entertainment outlets reported details of Bad Bunny’s planned setlist and choreography. Sources close to the production revealed that the Puerto Rican superstar intends to wear a custom-designed dress—a nod to his history of challenging gender norms—and feature a segment dedicated to “the resilience of the queer community.”

Rumors suggest the performance will include a visual homage to transgender activists and a troupe of drag performers, a creative choice the artist reportedly views as non-negotiable.

“He wants to make a statement about freedom,” a source close to the singer told Rolling Stone. “He knows the world is watching, and he isn’t going to waste the moment playing it safe.”

A League Divided

Mike Brown’s public stand has reportedly emboldened other conservative voices within the league’s ownership circles. Insiders claim that phone lines at NFL headquarters in New York have been jamming since dawn, with at least three other team ownership groups privately expressing support for the Bengals’ position.

“Mike isn’t alone,” one high-ranking AFC executive told reporters on condition of anonymity. “There is a significant block of owners who feel the league has drifted too far. They see this performance as the breaking point. They are worried about alienating the heartland fan who just wants to watch the game without a lecture.”

However, the backlash to Brown’s demand has been equally fierce. Progressive owners and the NFL Players Association (NFLPA) have voiced concerns that canceling the performance would be a catastrophic PR disaster, signaling that the league is hostile to the LGBTQ+ community.

Bad Bunny Refuses to Blink

Amidst the chaos, Bad Bunny—known for his defiance and artistic integrity—has remained unbothered. In a cryptic post on Instagram shortly after Brown’s statement circulated, the singer posted a photo of himself painting his nails with the caption: “El miedo no paga la renta. Nos vemos en febrero.” (“Fear doesn’t pay the rent. See you in February.”)

His management team has reportedly issued an ultimatum to the league: If the NFL attempts to censor the performance or dictate the wardrobe, Bad Bunny will walk away from the show entirely, leaving the Super Bowl without a headliner less than a month before the game.

Fan Reaction: A Digital Civil War

Social media has devolved into a digital battlefield. The hashtag #BoycottSuperBowl is trending for two opposing reasons: one group threatening to tune out if the “woke” performance goes ahead, and another threatening to boycott if the NFL caves to Brown’s “bigotry.”

Bengals fans find themselves in the crosshairs. While many support their owner’s “old school” values, others are embarrassed by the distraction as the team prepares for its own potential postseason run.

“I just want us to focus on winning a ring,” wrote one prominent Bengals fan account. “Why are we fighting a pop star? Mike Brown needs to worry about the offensive line, not the halftime show.”

The stakes for the NFL

For Roger Goodell, this is a nightmare scenario. The Super Bowl Halftime Show is the most-watched musical event of the year, sponsored by Apple Music in a deal worth hundreds of millions. Canceling the act would invite lawsuits and breach of contract claims, while proceeding risks a revolt from a powerful faction of owners and a potential dip in viewership from conservative demographics.

The league has issued a brief, neutral holding statement: “The NFL is committed to bringing world-class entertainment to our fans. We are in constant dialogue with our partners and artists to ensure a show that celebrates the spirit of the game.”

A Showdown in the Making

As of Saturday afternoon, neither side is backing down. Mike Brown has reportedly requested an emergency meeting of the owners’ Executive Committee to review the “appropriateness” of the halftime content. Meanwhile, Bad Bunny’s creative team is allegedly doubling down, adding even more theatrical elements to the controversial segment.

The question now hanging over Levi’s Stadium is no longer just who will win the game, but whether the show will go on at all. Mike Brown has thrown a flag on the play, and for the first time, the NFL doesn’t seem to know the ruling.

Is it football? Is it a circus? Or is it the new battleground for America’s soul? The world will be watching—if the cameras aren’t cut off first.