Breaking Down Everything Charley Crockett Said About Bad Bunny, Donald Trump, Elon Musk and More

Shortly before Bad Bunny took the stage for his galvanising Super Bowl LX Half-Time show, Charley Crockett took to social media to praise the ‘DtMF’ hitmaker, as well as offering some strongly-worded criticism of Donald Trump, Elon Musk and more.

Bad Bunny's Half-Time set had sparked backlash from Trump and other Conservative commentators, with Turning Point USA even hosting an alternative ‘All-American’ half-time show featuring Kid Rock, Gabby Barrett and more. Benito has been vocal in his denunciation of the Trump administration's controversial ICE raids.

Crockett has underlined that he views Bad Bunny as the perfect role model for how artists should honour their heritage, with the ‘$10 Cowboy’ hitmaker implying country acts should follow suit and ensure traditional music is given a spotlight again.

Crockett begins by referencing Gavin Adcock's derogatory label for him during their ongoing war of words, “They keep saying I’m a cosplay cowboy but they love a cosplay president”.

He goes on to reflect, “Some folks have been on here calling Muhammad Ali a draft dodger when yall got one in the White House”. This is seemingly a reference to the fact that many people still criticise Muhammad Ali for being a conscientious objector during the Vietnam War because of his religion. Crockett suggests these critics are hypocrites, highlighting that Trump also didn't fight in Vietnam, due to reportedly receiving a number of Student and Medical deferments.

Crockett then recalls his experience at the GRAMMY Awards, seemingly contrasting Jelly Roll's comments on Jesus in his acceptance speech with those of Bad Bunny, musing, “When I was at the Grammys the other night I saw a guy get up and talk about Jesus, and then I saw Bad Bunny get up there and talk like Jesus”.

He appears to be arguing that, although Jelly was very vocal about his religion and repeatedly expressed his love for Jesus, Bad Bunny's comments emulated Jesus’ teachings more accurately. In his speech, Benito expressed his frustration with Trump's immigration policy, before foreshadowing his Super Bowl LX message by championing a spirit of love and togetherness, rather than hatred, “The only thing that's more powerful than hate is love. So, please, we need to be different. If we fight, we have to do it with love. We don’t hate them. We love our people. We love our family and there's a way to do it, with love, and don't forget that”.

Crockett's comments that appear to be about Jelly - although he doesn't mention the ‘Need a Favor’ singer-songwriter by name - hark back to his criticism of Adcock, when the latter released a song about Jesus, titled ‘Perfect Man’. Crockett bluntly declared, “That ain't following Jesus. That's selling him”, echoing Benjamin Tod's philosophising about how mainstream Nashville has commodified Jesus.

In his Super Bowl post, Crockett then takes aim at the country industry, contrasting the way in which Bad Bunny showcases traditional Puerto Rican music to how he perceives the Nashville country world has “sold out” and forgotten its steel-soaked roots, “The country music establishment should be taking notes on a Puerto Rican American who hasn’t forgotten his heritage and brought his culture’s traditional music back to the front, showing the world something new with it”.

Crockett again places Donald Trump in his crosshairs, before sending shots at Elon Musk and Peter Thiel, “The President is a grifter who bankrupted 6 casinos. That’s pretty extraordinary considering it’s a rigged business in favor of the house. The only thing he’s good at is filing lawsuits and portraying a successful business man as a reality TV actor. Last time I checked Elon Musk was an immigrant from South Africa but there he is standing in the White House buying our elections. Let’s deport his ass and send Peter Thiel back with him since they both openly believe in a post democratic society where men of their class are above the law. Forgive me if I have a problem with a 34 time convicted felon running this country when I lost the right to vote or own a weapon for years over marijuana. As long as you’re hating the oppressed and loving your oppressor you’ll never know why our generation is poorer than our parents and grandparents”.

Crockett stresses, “As a great man once said it’s welfare for the rich and rugged individualism for the poor. If you can sleep at night licking their boots that’s between you and yours, but that type of thinking isn’t freedom. It’s mental slavery. Every single right we have as a people wasn’t handed to us. We had to fight and take it”.

He concludes, “Judge a man by how he treats the poor and those who he views as being able to do nothing for him. Don’t forget why Muhammad Ali said “I am America.” Remember the coal miners of Harlan County, Kentucky. I believe in what we can be. Ride on”.

Crockett has always been an outspoken figure in the country music arena, with his views on the genre last year having sparked heated discussions involving Adcock, Tod and more.

His comments here, though, seem to primarily be in response to the hate being sent Bad Bunny's way, due to his views on ICE and the fact that he would be singing in Spanish at the Super Bowl LX. Trump has repeatedly questioned the NFL's decision to recruit Bad Bunny as their Half-Time performer. Given his electrifying, joyful show last night (Sunday, February 8th), which is reported to have been one of the most viewed Half-Time shows in history, and the fact that he is the most streamed artist on the planet, it appears the NFL's choice has so far been vindicated. It remains to be seen whether any artists, such as Jelly Roll, respond to Crockett.

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