Victor Davis Hanson
American Greatness
In recent years, Americans have known what to expect from our Neronian Super Bowl halftime shows: mediocre music veneered over with gaudy, flashily lit, but ultimately empty and meaningless sets.
As seen again this year, the usual array of supporting dancers twerk and simulate intercourse, in sync with the main singer, mindlessly grabbing his/her genitals—apparently to highlight the explicit sexual allusions of mostly nonsensical lyrics.
For some strange reason, this Roman orgiastic ritual is supposedly designed by the NFL each year to appeal to American families of all ages as they gather together around the living room TV on their festive cultural holiday.
But the script has now grown predictable and trite. This year’s mess jumped the shark and had a force-multiplying boring effect on one of the most tedious Super Bowl games in history.
The decision to have Bad Bunny as the main attraction to sing solely in Spanish—only 14 percent of the U.S. population is fluent in Spanish, while 90 percent is proficient in English—was apparently designed to grow the NFL’s global audience, particularly in the Western Hemisphere, or perhaps to shock America to get accustomed to its new official multilingual identity.
Yet of the anticipated 60 million Americans who likely watched this flat show, more than 50 million of them could neither read nor comprehend Spanish. And they had previously been insulted by Bunny to hurry up and learn Spanish before the game—or else?
How odd that America provides translations of every conceivable language in its courts, hospitals, and schools for minorities of non-English-speaking residents. And yet at its annual signature sporting event, the marquee and main-event non-English speaker would not even provide translations for the vast majority of the viewing population.
Part of the hype of Bunny’s appearance was his supposedly edgy decision to perform entirely in Spanish. But was that really so avant-garde?
What would have been far more against-the-grain and bold for Bad Bunny would have been to find some way to reconnect with the millions of disenchanted families who simply wish a hiatus from the monotonously gross and politicized Super Bowl bacchanalias.
Most in the stadium had no idea what Bad Bunny was singing about, if we can call his nonstop talking and mumbling true music.
Fortunately for Bunny, that language barrier turned out to be about the only good thing about the entire Sunday disaster.
Most of Bunny’s lyrics were raunchy and demented, and likely out-Epsteined the imagination of the late Jeffrey Epstein.
In his vile, obscene “Safaera,” to avoid being censored, Bunny omitted a few of the song’s lyrics about his celebration of exploitative sodomy, fellatio, and anilingus—with misogynistic trashing of his compliant female sexual partners as “hoes.”
(Do woke intersectional feminists weigh in on the side of Bunny’s DEI credentials and sexual fluidity, or do they bristle at Bunny’s “objectification” of women, as he reduces them to mere mindless receptacles of violent and toxic masculinity?).
If Bunny’s purpose was to shock America, then he should have sung his full lyrics of “Safaera” in English, ensuring that his first-time listeners were forced to hear and react to his sick adolescent riffs on breasts, bottoms, phalluses, and vaginas.
Bunny had been previously instructed not to repeat his prior performance-art trashing of ICE and to keep his politicking subtle and coded.
Translated, that meant the NFL had greenlighted some of his obscene references as long as they were relegated to a Spanish-speaking audience only and toned down a bit. But he was not overtly to alienate over half of the NFL’s viewership, who not long ago had voted to stop illegal immigration and millions crashing the border.
Bunny mostly complied, albeit with empty platitudes about hate and love, and reducing the American flag to a status similar to that of the other South and Central American states.
Ricky Martin chimed in with his own incoherent Spanish-language harangue about the American rape of paradise in Hawaii (“They want to take my river and my beach too/They want my neighborhood and grandma to leave”). If Martin’s point was the arrival of too many newcomers, then he might have first reflected on the 10-million uninvited illegal aliens who, during the Biden tenure, stormed America’s southern border.
A writer for the now-defunct sports section of the Washington Post had earlier and ludicrously boasted that the mostly forgotten Colin Kaepernick—the Dylan Mulvaney of the NFL—would be the most relevant figure at the 2026 Super Bowl.
Perhaps he was—if the writer meant by “relevant” the narcissistic Kaepernick’s past popularizing of taking-the-knee during the National Anthem. That antic likely reduced NFL viewership by 25 percent in 2016-2017, and turned Sunday afternoons into racial psychodramas with two race-coded National Anthems.
In sum, last Sunday was the same old, same old Super Bowl Satyricon.
The first Super Bowl had The University of Arizona Marching band, The Grambling St Marching Band, Al Hurt and the Anaheim High School Drill team. I’d like to get back to that if this bilge is the alternative.
Gloria Estefan and Miami Sound Machine might have sung in Spanish, but would also have added some English songs to their medley. Plus, their songs would have had melody and be recognizable to most of the audience. We all would have loved them.
Rapid-fire rap in a foreign language with little melody was a problem.
I am very very happy to hear you again on air! Your voice sounds stronger post surgery. Praying for continued good health.
Quick correction on my post “No idea” instead of known idea.” Sorry, sometimes my public education interferes with my private education growing up.
You haven’t lost a step! I had known idea that the Puerto Ricans had such distain for the United Stated of America. His performance seemed to be an “ in your face America “ we are the superior culture! It’s sad that we seemed to have lost the idea of the “ Great Melting Pot.” Every country is dedicated to preserving their culture, the left seems to think that the United States should preserve every culture except its own.
So sad that the media and the NFL do not care to protect innocent children during the halftime show of the Super Bowl. They are deprave.
So great to have you back Victor. Take good care of yourself.
I had no idea what a “Bad Bunny” was… I just assumed he was an X-rated cartoon for adults like the dirty 1970s animated “Fritz the Cat.” Ha ha — turns out I was more right than I had realized.
After Ray Nitschke stopped playing, Deacon Jones stopped, Jack Lambert stopped, Dick Butkus stopped, Jack Youngblood, etc., some cried emotionally because they could no longer play. Some played more with heart. I stopped watching professional football after they left the scene. Today, the sport appears to reflect lesser, more coarse values. The Commissioner and Bad Bunny’s lyrics in Spanish indicate a gutter culture that is not of an advanced civilization. Citizens should be turn away.
Victor’s comparison of the Super Bowl to a Roman Bacchanalia is so true, a thought that crossed my mind some years ago. It’s good to see Victor with his ever-expanding audience speak out against the inappropriate behavior.
As well, everyone’s comments are great, especially during our 250th anniversary.
Personally, I tend not to watch professional sports anymore because of the ridiculous compensation for playing a game and the on-field antics. When I do watch a game, it’s usually intermittent and find it helps to turn off the sound because of the often annoying, over-commentary.
Like John T. I was not even aware this past weekend was SB (known to me as Stupid Bowl nowadays) until my son was heading out to deliver pizzas that day. I became aware the game was on when firecrackers began going off every 10 or 15 minutes.
Like Ken S. I stopped watching the NFL; mostly after Kapernick took a knee and the Rams came out with “Hand-up don’t shoot” protest (which most knew then and all know now it was a complete falsehood perpetrated by the left and BLM). I was a bit put off when Capt (real USA Captain) Alexander Villanueva stood alone with his hand over his heart as the rest of my formerly favorite Steelers hid in the tunnel. The so called “Black National Anthem was the final straw!
Since then like Keith K. I watch ZERO professional sports except for an occassional NHL game in hopes that a hockey game will break out.
Great point Dave on how the NFL gave the nation the middle finger in time for the 250th Anniversary of the greatest revolution ever to take place!
Victor, you had major surgery, please give it time heal. Go slow because the alternative isn’t good. Be patient.
Right on VDH! Glad you are back as I had to be admitted to the hospital with a bad case of VDHWS= Victor Davis Hanson Withdrawal Syndrome! The only cure for this was watching old Daily Signal videos of you, Jack and Sami every hour on the hour! I did watch The ‘Bunny’ at halftime, that’s BUGS BUNNY of “What’s up Doc” fame from my early cartoon days! It was in English and I never saw Bugs grab any of his private parts which was absolutely fine with me. Take care of yourself V and don’t try to over due your comeback. We all missed you, but we want you healthy and breathing.
VDH — love you man!! May God richly bless you.
Brandi Carlyle singing my Great Great Great Aunt Kathrine Lee Bates’ “Oh Beautiful for Spacious Skies…” was so much better than Guano Bunny, I can’t believe it. Keep her, trash him.
At meetng last sunday, on some reason I do not comprehend, there was some sort o drawing related to the Stupid Bawl. Now leadership, still I was surprised. What does THAT mess have to do wih why we gathe? Nothing….
Someone asked me who I thought was going o win. I asked “win what? ” He looked at me as though I’d dropped in out o space, When he “s’plained” his query I said “suppose I got an extra nickel should this or that team win, I might consider.” More blank stares. Have not watched this debacle in decades. ‘
I forgot last weekend was even the Super Bowl. I’m done with the NFL for multiple reasons, from the eggregous politics, to my once-favorite team moving out from under loyal fans in the name of money to rules changes whose cumulative effect is to slowly empty the game of the true conflict that was its strength on TV.
We have been praying for you VDH. Glad to see you are coming back but please rest and take care of yourself first. Great explanation of BB.
So wonderful to have you back Victor. Always incisive and excellent.
Same thing will happen to the NFL as did Las Vegas !!!!! People just stopped going …. can’t wait !!!!
Thank you Victor
Get well soon.
God bless you
The Big Bunny choice makes terrific sense if you consider that the NFL sees Latin America as the next place to colonize with their money churning machine. If you can get expansion teams in Mexico, Argentina, Chile and Venezuela, think of the TV dollars that will roll in.
I am a regular listener of your podcast and have sincerely missed your insight into pertinent issues. The podcast in your absence has been good, but I am pleased to see you back in the chair. I often catch up with you each morning as I walk my dog. I will be 80 years old this April and share many of your concerns. After listening this morning, Thursday, February `12th, 2026, regarding Bad Bunny, I have read Forbes and Google, and they are not reporting the same review I listened to you give regarding the performance. Would you speak to this? You are my steadfast foundation. I relate to the young people I work with in Omaha, Nebraska.
Gary
If there was no gambling on the game, viewership would have dropped 80% by half-time.
It’s so great to have you back Victor. I pray for your full recovery. I find your wisdom and intelligence second to none. Unfortunately, purely out of curiosity, I watched the half time fiasco. Horrible. Why do these performers include sexual themes and actions? What has become of family sports tv viewing? I am disgusted. Please God save our country.
we watched a few minutes of Puppy Bowl and called it good
thank you VDH, prayers for healing
We are not fans of professional sports. As my husband puts it, ‘no one pays to watch me work, why should I pay and shout for those chasing a ball around.’ From what I hear after such events, it is good to miss them and not be offended by their obscene antics. We went to dinner at our favorite restaurant on Sunday which, mercifully, does not have a television blaring while we are dining. It was also nearly empty because of the Super Bowl. It was delightful!
The NCAA final bowl was better in every possible way.
This is another great analysis of our culture by one of the few great cultural critics of our day, Victor Hanson.
Abused people are often afraid to speak up when they encounter abusive people. Victor re-defines with moral and cultural clarity the emptiness, the luridness, of American “transgressive” culture. What is good and a great blessing to human beings, created by God, some in every generation want to crush and spoil. Victor takes the sting out of the true criticisms for every decent moral person who reads him. Gertrude Himmelfarb once commented that in the Victorian era people who chose vice became hypocrites while in our era the destruction of moral decency caused virtuous people to become hypocrites by not speaking out against vice. Victor helps us turn the tables again. Those who embrace vice must either this truth about themselves or else become hypocrites.
Mr. Hanson,
There does not exist a voice like yours anywhere else in our media. I appreciate your unassailable logic and stinging (to some) candor.
I have not missed the NFL for most of my 60 years. I pine for the days of the old Dolphins for instance, and the players that made the game fun to watch back in the days of my childhood.
The modern NFL, and i would say all professional sports, has no attraction to me because of the slow slide into commercial absurdity that is exemplified by this years superbowl antics.
Thank you for your consistent and persistent commentary on the world we live in.
Tom Vicars
Cleveland, TN
I threw the NFL ‘under the bus’ in 2016 when my favorite team (Seahawks) decided that taking a knee during the National Anthem was a great idea. My TV subscription went the same way a couple years later.
Good to see you back, Victor!
Thanks again for another thoughtful assessment. This year I just decided to skip watching the Super Bowl. Unfortunately the Super Bowl has joined the ranks of the Oscars and Grammys. As VDH has previously pointed out, events that used to celebrate American culture and bring us together, now divide us. It just makes me sad.
Yes, thanks Dave, for reminding us how disgusting the Super Bowl presentation was to have completely ignored America’s 250th anniversary!!!!
And thanks to Keith for reminding us that there are many more interesting things to see and do than spending time watching NFL games. Although we’re not likely to throw out the TV.
And special regards to Victor Davis Hanson for recovering from his recent health scares. His commentaries are our #1 source of quality analysis and history behind World civilizations and threats.
Godlessness is a growing catastrophe for the USA and the entire West.
There are so many reasons why I couldn’t care less about the NFL.
1. Their business model is based on fleecing the taxpayer out of millions in order to pay for new stadiums.
2. The fan cost of an NFL game, ie. tickets, parking, concessions, is so ridiculously expensive that the average Joe can no longer afford to see a game (at the stadium he paid for).
3. Shameless self promoters and intellectual charlatans such as Colin Kaepernick have injected far left political propaganda into the game. Having to watch a multi millionaire flip the bird at the country during the national anthem is nauseating and infuriating.
4. Halftime entertainment is usually a raunchy display of smut and macho bravado aimed at the lowest common denominator of viewer sensibilities.
5. All of the proselytizing and hectoring of the traditional fan who just wants to watch a football game without being insulted and told he’s a racist neanderthal in dire need of Woke re-education.
Oh, NFL you bastard I’m through with you.
I quit watching pro sports when Kneeling became popular. I had just started to enjoy pro football again, then it happened again. They get lots of money from viewership, they will again be minus 1 for another few years as I’m tired of this Crap from the NFL leadership with a sport uniquely American Made. Shove it where the sun don’t shine Roger Godell.
The FCC still censors words and behavior here in Kentucky. Our local radio stations still use “dump buttons” if someone uses foul language during a broadcast. Is the FCC still in operation?
The only way to stop the NFL and others from allowing this trash to invade the minds of children and adults is to stop watching it. That means getting up at halftime and leaving for the bathroom. Better to stand in long lines than to have your mind corrupted. These celebrity clowns thrive on imagery so hand it back to them with your own version.
Think back and you’ll remember the revolutionary, sexual lyrics and gyrations of a band lead by an attendee at the London School of Economics. This is different, but the same. In your face; upset the prudes; sound like a revolutionary while carefully investing the millions in real estate, etc. And, frankly, not worse than almost anything ‘kids’ these days see all the time. And, BB’s political statements are also no worse than a lot of what the Entertainment ‘stars’ say all the time. Yes, we are in a Sodom and Gomorrah time, but don’t blame it on the NFL…they’re just trying to maximizing their viewership
I don’t understand why he doesn’t call himself Conejito Malo… Just another example of the coginitive dissonance pushed by the left.
Dear Victor, it is such a pleasure to hear your voice again during my morning walks. I had become addicted to cuing up the Daily Signal and getting your take on the political satyricons we regularly endure. I pray that your health continues to improve and that you have a full and robust recovery. Most importantly, take care to take care and find the source of your joy that keeps you engrossed and involved!
I gave up following professional sports over 25 years ago when we made the decision to toss out the television. An unintended consequence of this action was the impossibility of following professional sports. I soon discovered that the world still goes ’round whether I see the Reds play the Pirates or not. I follow my beloved Blackhawks via radio broadcast and print and do still pine a bit over the Olympics.
We watched a puppy bowl and the alternate half time show streaming Monday night. That was VERY entertaining and had none of the angst and wickedly poor taste associated with viewing the network telecast. Not to mention the commercials. A plus all around.
If the NFL is such a lucrative business, (and given the salaries of the players and wealth of the owners) let them foot the cost of their own stadiums, instead of having localities give them tax incentives, bond issues, etc.) And I’m tired of hearing the tripe that the locality has to do it or they’ll move elsewhere. So what? If none of the cities did it, they’d be forced to build them on their own dime. They’d simply build them where they’d have the most customers. Which, oddly enough, are the same places.
As usual VDH nailed it!
Dear Victor,
Thank you for your clear and concise writing on Super Bowl 2026. Thank you.
I enjoy your writings tremendously and look forward to your insights as to geo-politics and the culture. I am so thankful for you.
As you endured your medical crisis so my husband, also, endured his at the same time. I prayed and cried and prayed for you both. GOD heard and answered according to His Plan for your life and my husband’s life.
Be well VDH. We love you so much. Be blessed.
Know this, you are loved by so many.
Sincerely,
Patti
^^ NEVER happen
In the year 2026, instead of a celebration of our independence, the NFL subjected America to that trash.
I would have preferred a college marching band performing John Phillips Sousa music.
People need to stop attending and watching NFL games. But it would happen and the owners know it.. Arrogant.
Brilliant analysis!
I was unfamiliar with Bad Bunny and frustrated as I did not understand a word he sang. The English language must be codified as the official language of the USA and no more translations provided for any government or medical related services. This is how France functions in protecting it’s national identity.
Life is too short to waste on the musical choices of the NFL. I feel sorry VDH has to watch it for his profession. Then again he has his vast historical classist background to contrast and compare that makes it bearable for him. This column gets an uninflated A+.