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Florida Bar Refuses to Air Bad Bunny Super Bowl Halftime Show, Sparking Customer Outrage
The Zoo Club in St. Petersburg faced backlash after choosing to show a Turning Point USA event instead of the Bad Bunny performance.
Published on Feb. 9, 2026
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A Florida bar called The Zoo Club in St. Petersburg refused to air the Bad Bunny Super Bowl halftime show, instead showing a Turning Point USA event. This decision sparked outrage from a customer named Julio Santiago, who confronted the bar manager and posted a video of the interaction online. Santiago's video went viral, leading to a wave of negative reviews and backlash against the bar on social media.
Why it matters
This incident highlights the growing divide in the country, where even decisions about which Super Bowl halftime show to air can become a polarizing issue. It raises questions about whether bars have an obligation to show specific events during major sporting events, and how businesses should navigate catering to diverse customer preferences in a politically charged environment.
The details
In the video, Santiago can be seen asking the bar manager why they aren't showing the Bad Bunny halftime show, to which the manager responds that they are showing "The Halftime Show" - referring to the Turning Point USA event. Santiago threatens to post the video online, warning the manager that they might "look like a racist". The manager calmly responds that the video might actually bring in new customers. After posting the video, Santiago's supporters flooded the bar's online reviews, driving down its rating.
- The incident occurred on Super Bowl Sunday, February 9, 2026.
The players
The Zoo Club
A bar located in St. Petersburg, Florida that refused to air the Bad Bunny Super Bowl halftime show, instead showing a Turning Point USA event.
Julio Santiago
A customer at The Zoo Club who confronted the bar manager for not showing the Bad Bunny halftime show and posted a video of the interaction online, sparking backlash against the bar.
What they’re saying
“I came here for the halftime show. The whole experience. Why aren't you playing Bad Bunny?”
— Julio Santiago, Customer (outkick.com)
“Because I put this halftime show on.”
— Bar Manager (outkick.com)
“This is the halftime show. It's called, 'The Halftime Show.'”
— Bar Manager (outkick.com)
“You might get customers. You might lose a lot of customers because you might look like a racist.”
— Julio Santiago, Customer (outkick.com)
“Guess we'll see.”
— Bar Manager (outkick.com)
What’s next
The bar's management will likely need to carefully consider their programming decisions for future major sporting events to avoid similar backlash from customers.
The takeaway
This incident underscores the growing cultural and political divides in the country, where even decisions about which Super Bowl halftime show to air can become a flashpoint. It highlights the challenges businesses face in navigating customer preferences in a polarized environment.
