The controversy surrounding Super Bowl 2026 escalated sharply this week when Art Rooney II, owner of the Pittsburgh Steelers, delivered his strongest public criticism yet of the National Football League’s planned halftime show featuring Bad Bunny. What began as quiet unease among several owners has now become a full-scale debate about priorities, audience identity, and what the Super Bowl is meant to represent.

According to league sources, Rooney’s frustration intensified after learning that the halftime concept would prominently feature cultural and social symbolism, including LGBTQ+ messaging. Supporters inside league circles frame the idea as modern, expressive, and reflective of a changing audience. Critics, however, fear the league is risking the Super Bowl’s football-first identity by allowing the spectacle to eclipse the game itself.

🚨BREAKING: Thousands of #NFL fans claim that they are “BOYCOTTING” the Super Bowl Halftime show because Bad Bunny will wear a dress for his performance.

Bad Bunny reportedly plans to honor the queer community and has previously made statements against President Donald Trump. pic.twitter.com/EzdH9DkRBy

— MLFootball (@MLFootball) January 23, 2026

Inside Pittsburgh, the reaction has been direct. The Steelers are among the NFL’s most tradition-steeped franchises, and many longtime fans believe the halftime show should enhance championship night—not redefine it. Within team circles, the prevailing sentiment is that the Super Bowl’s power lies in its singular focus on competition, legacy, and the players who earn their way onto that stage.

Rooney, who first voiced his concerns privately to league officials before echoing them publicly, did not soften his stance.

“I’m not here to please everyone, and I’ll say it plainly: putting LGBTQ+ messaging at the center of the Super Bowl halftime is a strategic mistake,” Rooney said. “This game exists because of football—because of the players and the fans who’ve supported this league for generations. When social messaging becomes the main event instead of the game, we’re no longer talking about the Super Bowl—we’re talking about a stage that’s lost its own identity.”

Sources say Rooney’s position has resonated with multiple owners, even as most have opted to stay behind the scenes. There is a growing belief among that group that the NFL may be underestimating the reaction of its most loyal supporters, particularly in legacy markets where tradition remains paramount.

As details of the planned performance circulated online, reaction across social media quickly polarized. One side defended artistic freedom and cultural evolution; the other called for a recommitment to football-centric presentation. The divide underscores the league’s broader challenge: expanding cultural reach without alienating the audience that built the sport’s foundation.

The NFL has yet to issue an official statement, but executives are believed to be engaged in tense internal discussions. Altering the halftime plans could invite backlash from one direction, while maintaining the current course risks resistance from the other—an unenviable dilemma with global attention attached.

With Super Bowl 2026 approaching, the halftime show has already become one of the year’s most contentious off-field storylines. And with Art Rooney II stepping into the spotlight, the conversation now extends beyond who will win on the field to a more fundamental question: what the NFL wants its biggest night to stand for going forward.