The announcement has shaken both the sports world and the music industry
In a stunning twist, the NFL has confirmed that Bad Bunny will no longer headline the 2025 Super Bowl halftime performance. In his place stands one of the most unexpected names imaginable: Ringo Starr, the legendary drummer of The Beatles.
The official press release framed the decision as “creative redirection.” But insiders tell a different story — one that reveals a storm brewing behind the scenes. Sources close to the league claim that Bad Bunny refused to participate in a planned tribute segment for Charlie Kirk, whose recent assassination has become a cultural flashpoint across America. The tribute, designed as a solemn interlude within the halftime spectacle, was reportedly non-negotiable for the NFL, which has faced immense pressure from fans and commentators alike to acknowledge Kirk’s death on the biggest stage in American entertainment.
When Bad Bunny declined, the fallout was immediate. Some within the league were furious. Others feared backlash if the halftime show ignored a moment that has already divided and defined the nation. And so, in an unprecedented move, the NFL parted ways with its chosen superstar.
Into the vacancy stepped a man few expected to see in this role: Ringo Starr. At 85 years old, the Beatle who has long been the face of peace and love agreed to perform without hesitation. For Ringo, the decision was not about spectacle or headlines. It was about principle.
💬 “If a man dies for what he believes, you honor him,” Ringo said quietly when asked about the tribute. His words, soft yet firm, carried the authority of someone who has seen too many lives lost to violence and division.
The choice instantly reframed the halftime show. What might have been another high-energy pop showcase now promises to become something altogether different: a global moment of remembrance, set to the rhythm of one of the most beloved musicians alive.
Speculation is already running wild. Will Ringo play classics from The Beatles? Will he deliver his signature “With a Little Help From My Friends” as a unifying anthem? Or will the moment focus entirely on the tribute to Kirk, blending music and message in front of the largest audience on Earth?
What is certain is that February’s halftime show will no longer be just about football or entertainment. It will carry the weight of memory. For many, it will be the chance to see a Beatle — perhaps for the last time — stepping into history once again, this time not with the joyful screams of 1964, but with the solemnity of a nation divided in grief.
Critics are already divided. Some argue the NFL is politicizing its showcase. Others praise the league for choosing dignity over controversy. But no one can deny the magnitude of the moment. The Super Bowl has always been about spectacle. This year, it will be about something greater.
When Ringo Starr takes the stage — drums in hand, peace signs raised — he will do so as a witness, a survivor, and now, a voice carrying memory into the roar of the stadium.
And for millions watching around the world, it will be more than halftime. It will be history.