Bad Bunny Super Bowl Spectacle Was a ‘Crutch for the Lack of Talent,’ Says Victor Davis Hanson

Victor Davis Hanson: In His Own Words

Jennifer Hayne

News Commentary, News

4.8 • 1.1K Ratings

🗓️ 12 February 2026

⏱️ 56 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl halftime performance this past Sunday has the country split on whether or not it presented a message of unity or division. And the decision to hand him the stage traces back to an unexpected source: a close ally of Barack Obama. That’s right. Few fans realize that rapper Jay-Z has been quietly steering the Super Bowl’s halftime lineup for the past several years. According to Victor Davis Hanson, one thing is certain: when Jay-Z is in charge, viewers can expect “an elaborate set with shooting lights and all kinds of crazy stuff”—a spectacle he calls a “crutch for the lack of talent.” Victor Davis Hanson returns for another episode of “Victor Davis Hanson: In His Own Words,” where he breaks down Puerto Rican rapper and singer Bad Bunny’s controversial halftime performance and what it really says about the direction of America’s biggest stage. “This is a Neronian Roman circus… I see folk singers that used to come there [the Super Bowl], I saw country western [singers.] I had no problem with any of them. Leftwing, rightwing, I enjoyed it. But when you put Jay-Z in charge of the halftime show… we know what it is now.” 👉America is worth preserving. Do your part and act now by going to https://www.heritage.org/beautiful 👉Switch your cell phone provider to Patriot Mobile, and you’ll help grow a movement that fuels the Christian conservative cause. Go to PatriotMobile.com/VDH or call 972-PATRIOT and use promo code VDH for a FREE MONTH of service! 👉Claim your liberty offer of up to $5,000 in free metals with allegiance gold by going to https://www.ProtectWithVictor.com 👉Don’t miss out on Victor’s latest editions of “Victor Davis Hanson: In a Few Words” by 👉Don’t miss out on Victor’s latest editions of “Victor Davis Hanson: In a Few Words” by subscribing to The Daily Signal today. You’ll be notified every time a new piece of content drops: https://www.youtube.com/dailysignal?sub_confirmation=1 👉 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2iOoN0xoOoSNvDFlpLLYGY?si=5a9f369acc874c6e 👉 Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/victor-davis-hanson-in-his-own-words/id1566731706 👉 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@victordavishanson7273?sub_confirmation=1 👉 Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/VictorDavisHansonInHisOwnWords?e9s=src_v1_sa%2Csrc_v1_sa_o 👉 Victor’s website: https://victorhanson.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0	Ready to launch your business? Get started with the commerce platform made for entrepreneurs.
0:04.6	Shopify is specially designed to help you start, run and grow your business with easy, customizable themes that let you build your brand, marketing tools that get your products out there.
0:14.1	Integrated shipping solutions that actually save you time. From startups to scaleups, online, in person and on the go.
0:21.0	Shopify is made for entrepreneurs like you.
0:23.4	Sign up for your $1 a month trial at Shopify.com slash setup.
0:29.0	There once was a woman who lived in a shoe.
0:31.8	A size too snug, but what could she do?
0:34.7	But that's not where her story ends.
0:37.1	Thanks to a little help from her Experian friends,
0:39.7	she got her score into much better shape
0:41.6	and relocated to a box fresh new place,
0:44.6	with room to grow and a mortgage to suit.
0:47.8	Now, she lives in a spacious four-bedroom cowboy boots.
0:52.0	Better your Experian credit score to help get mortgage ready. Experian,
0:56.0	better your score, better your story.
0:59.0	When you put Jay-Z in charge of the halftime show, then there has been a script, whether
1:04.0	it was Rihanna or Beyond's or any of the...
1:07.0	We know what it is now. You just turn on the TV and you say to yourself, there's going to be an elaborate set with shooting lights and all kinds of crazy stuff.
1:17.2	And that is a crutch for the lack of talent. And then they're going to have a whole group of, they did this last year, a whole group of dancers.
1:26.1	And they're going to twerk, is that the word
1:28.2	twerking, and they're going to simulate sexual intercourse. And the sets and the explosive
1:35.1	and he'll come out of a hat or they'll throw him to the crush. All that is a side show, a veneer
	...

Please login to see the full transcript.

Previous episode | Next episode

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from Jennifer Hayne, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of Jennifer Hayne and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.