Kid Rock has rejected accusations that he mimed during his appearance at Turning Point USA’s All-American Halftime Show, instead claiming the controversy was caused by technical difficulties with his pre-taped performance.
Speaking on Fox News’s The Ingraham Angle on Monday, the 55-year-old musician acknowledged the show was recorded in advance but maintained he was genuinely performing.
“I’m jumping around the stage like a rabid monkey, rapping my song, and I’m taking breaths, and my DJ is filling in the other parts of it,” he told presenter Laura Ingraham.
The singer, whose real name is Robert James Ritchie, explained that his DJ’s contributions during Bawitdaba were not properly synchronised with the broadcast.
Kid Rock performed during Turning Point USA’s Super Bowl half-time show
|
TURNING POINT USA
“So it was just a syncing issue that they had, and I know they tried to get it right. It was very difficult,” he added.
As well as defending his own performance, Kid Rock also took aim at Bad Bunny’s official Super Bowl halftime show, which made history as the first to be performed entirely in Spanish.
“Like most people, I didn’t understand any of it,” the rock star remarked, referring to the Puerto Rican artist’s use of Spanish throughout the set.
He described the performance as “not my cup of tea” but didn’t blame Bad Bunny directly for accepting the coveted slot.
Bad Bunny is the first Super Bowl performer to perform solely in Spanish | GETTY
“I don’t fault that kid for doing the Super Bowl, getting in front of a global audience. I fault the NFL for putting him in that position and Turning Point for having to come out and have an alternative for people to watch,” he stated.
“You know, it’s just — poor kid.”
Elsewhere, President Donald Trump launched a scathing attack on Bad Bunny’s performance via his Truth Social platform shortly after the show concluded.
“The Super Bowl Halftime Show is absolutely terrible, one of the worst, EVER!” the president wrote.
Kid Rock has denied miming
|
GETTY
He continued: “It makes no sense, is an affront to the Greatness of America, and doesn’t represent our standards of Success, Creativity, or Excellence.”
Trump also criticised the content as inappropriate for younger viewers, stating: “Nobody understands a word this guy is saying, and the dancing is disgusting, especially for young children that are watching from throughout the U.S.A., and all over the World.”
The president concluded by labelling the entire production “a slap in the face” to the country.
The alternative halftime show, which ran for 35 minutes and was reportedly filmed in Atlanta, attracted up to 6.1 million concurrent viewers during its livestream.
I could care less about the charts but I can’t miss out on the fun of posting this! Thank you!! God Is Good. PS: I will be on Fox News @IngrahamAngle tonight. pic.twitter.com/DL5HDCBLzq
— KidRock (@KidRock) February 9, 2026
However, early estimates suggest more than 100 million people watched Bad Bunny’s groundbreaking performance at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California.
The Puerto Rican star concluded his set with a screen displaying the message: “The only thing more powerful than hate is love” — widely interpreted as a response to the current political climate in America.
His performance featured guest appearances from Lady Gaga, Ricky Martin, Pedro Pascal, Cardi B, Karol G, and Jessica Alba.
Turning Point USA spokesperson Andrew Kolvet confirmed to Fox News that the conservative organisation intends to stage another Maga-aligned alternative halftime show in 2027.
