Michigan Republican's ad urges football fans to skip Bad Bunny at Super Bowl

Craig Mauger, The Detroit News on Feb 5, 2026

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LANSING, Mich. — Businessman Perry Johnson, a Republican candidate to be Michigan's next governor, is planning to sponsor commercials in the coming days that encourage viewers to change the channel during musician Bad Bunny's Super Bowl halftime show.

Bad Bunny, who's Puerto Rican and backed Democrat Kamala Harris over Republican Donald Trump in the 2024 race for the White House, spoke out against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in a speech at the Grammy awards Sunday.

Johnson's campaign said Thursday its new ad, entitled "Super Bowl Bunny," is expected to begin airing immediately through Sunday evening, including during NBC's Super Bowl pre-game programming in at least some Michigan TV markets. It wasn't immediately clear whether NBC or its affiliates would allow someone to encourage viewers to change the channel during the halftime show on its own broadcast.

“We are urging people to turn the channel on Bad Bunny," Johnson said in a statement. "We advertised in the pre-game to the Super Bowl rather than risk our ads playing during the Bad Bunny halftime show."

In his planned ad, Johnson refers to Bad Bunny as "Dust Bunny" and says that instead of the Bad Bunny performance, people should watch the conservative group Turning Point USA's alternative called "The All American Halftime Show." The ad shows a video clip of Johnson shaking hands with Charlie Kirk, the slain conservative activist and founder of Turning Point USA.

"Join me in changing the channel during halftime to Turning Point’s 'All American Halftime Show' for some great American entertainment during America’s game," Johnson's new ad says.

The Turning Point program, which will be aired on YouTube and elsewhere, will feature Trump-supporter and Michigan native Kid Rock, among others.

Johnson is a wealthy businessman from Oakland County who made his fortune developing quality controls for the auto industry.

He launched his bid to be Michigan's next governor on Jan. 26, vowing to spend $9 million of his own money over 60 days to boost his chances in a crowed Republican primary field that includes former Attorney General Mike Cox of Livonia, U.S. Rep. John James of Shelby Township, former state House Speaker Tom Leonard of DeWitt, and state Senate Minority Leader Aric Nesbitt of Porter Township.

Johnson is planning an ad blitz through Feb. 23 that will exceed $3 million in spending on TV, radio and internet platforms, according to his campaign. The Bad Bunny-focused ad will be part of it, along with another commercial that highlights Johnson's plan to do away with Michigan's 4.25% personal income tax.

Michigan's individual income tax generates more than $13 billion annually, representing more than a quarter of the state's revenue.

Johnson also sponsored a Super Bowl ad during his 2022 campaign for governor. That one touted Johnson as the "quality guru." He ultimately didn't make the primary ballot in 2022 because of a wave of fraudulent petition signatures that ensnared five GOP candidates.

Michigan's current Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, a Democrat, can't run for reelection in 2026 because of term limits.

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