Country star Zach Bryan found himself in conservative crosshairs after he called TPUSA’s Halftime Show “cringe.” TPUSA’s shows aired as an alternative to Bad Bunny’s performance, which many conservatives had rejected giving Bad Bunny’s proclivity to wear dresses and singing only in Spanish. While Bad Bunny did not wear a dress, something that was rumored to be a real possibility prior to the show, the show was still criticized for Bad Bunny’s all-Spanish songs and explicit lyrics.

Bryan, however, offered his own criticisms of TPUSA’s show, which was headlined by Kid Rock and featured Brantley Gilbert, Lee Brice, and Gabby Barrett. In a now deleted post, Bryan wrote, “What kid rock actually thinks is happening across America,” over a video of Bryan’s friend watching the TPUSA show on their phone while blocking Bad Bunny’s performance on the TV with their hand. Fans clapped back, accusing Bryan of losing his patriotism. He later shared another post of a message from a fan criticizing him for attacking the show. “wtf happens to you?” asked the fan. “Boy you turned into a Hollywood sell out b—- real quick. You were my favorite artist. Now you are nothing but another dumb— out of touch elitist. S— happens real quick homie.” Bryan, however, doubled down. “I don’t care what side you’re on, a bunch of adults throwing temper tantrums and their own halftime show is embarrassing as hell and the most cringe s— on the planet.”

Bryan later took aim at one of the performers, Brantly Gilbert, by posting a parody video of himself singing Gilbert’s song “Dirt Road Anthem,” which Gilbert performed at the TPUSA show. Bryan swapped out the lyrics to make the song about a chili dog. Gilbert responded to the video with a video of himself eating a chili dog while Bryan plays his parody in the background. “@zachlanebryan, you can climb all the fences you want, you’re not getting my chili dog,” he wrote, referencing an incident when Bryan scaled a fence during an argument with country singer Gavin Adcock. Country star Jason Aldean, a supporter of President Trump, took a shot at Bryan as well, commenting on Gilbert’s video, “Best song I’ve heard from that guy.”

Overall, the TPUSA Halftime show received glowing reviews from conservatives. While some expressed concerns over Kid Rock’s own history of explicit lyrics, others pointed to the progression of the show, which featured Kid Rock singing to some of his older, explicit songs before coming back out and reintroduced by his actual name, Robert James Ritchie. Singing as himself, Ritchie then sang a Gospel-themed message to close out the show. Many conservatives interpreted the show as trying to display Kid Rock’s redemption arc as he leaves behind the rough edges of Kid Rock and embraces the Gospel-washed persona of Robert James Ritchie. “Kid Rock honors Jesus Christ at his Super Bowl halftime performance,” wrote one user on X. “Bad Bunny is a Satanist and wears dresses. The difference couldn’t be more stark.”