Bad Bunny and the Influencers: The sad consequence of social media

Bad Bunny and the Influencers: The sad consequence of social media

I keep seeing the term “influencer” and was wondering “what is an influencer” and who does an influencer influence? Wikipedia says “An influencer, also known as a social media influencer or online influencer, is a person who builds a grassroots online presence through engaging content such as photos, videos, and updates.” I also saw this definition: “An influencer is someone who has the power to affect the purchasing decisions of others because of his or her authority, knowledge, position, or relationship with his or her audience. Influencers are usually active on social media platforms like Facebook, YouTube, X, TikTok, and Instagram.” 

So I guess that there are at least two types of “influencers”: one who influences opinions and one who influences purchases. But aren’t teachers influencers even though they may not have an online presence? Maybe it is just me and my scope of knowledge but I don’t know anyone who is influenced to purchase stuff because of someone on social media. I also don’t know anyone so addicted to a media personality to be swayed by their opinion either. Yes I know there are those who may be “influenced” but, thank goodness, I just don’t know anyone personally who is. I do remember CBS’s Walter Cronkite being called “the most trusted man in America” and Lyndon Johnson saying regarding the Viet Nam war “If I have lost Cronkite, I’ve lost Middle America.” Is Joe Rogan today’s Cronkite?

What got me thinking about influencers was media reporting on reactions by certain personalities to the Super Bowl halftime show. Of course, those on the right hated it while just as predictably those on the left loved it. But what did us mostly normal folk think? I haven’t seen a poll yet but I can report on a very small sample. As has been the case for a number of years, my other half and I joined the same set of couples for a wonderful gathering hosted by a close and dear friend to watch the Super Bowl. Usually at halftime a few of us gather in the kitchen to engage in conversation when the game is in hiatus. So I did not watch Bad Bunny. In fact, I have only watched one halftime show – Beyonce in 2013. After halftime, I asked “How was the show?” The most common answer was “It was ok – but a bit risqué.” They were referring to the dancers but not the lyrics (no one spoke Spanish). Reports were that many parents were upset over what some called the “excessive twerking and raunchy dancing” during the performance. 

Later when I read the translation of the lyrics, it seems that “risqué” might have been a wee bit understatement. Were the lyrics closed captioned? I hope not. Go see the English translation of “Tití Me Preguntó” and you will see why one republican congressman is calling for the FCC to fine Mr Bunny for vulgarity. On the other hand the Washington Post – which obviously has different standards – said “In general, Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl halftime show had the kind of wholesome, traditional family values that would have fit right in with some of the more sentimental commercials that appeared during the game.” Eye of the beholder, I guess. By the way, the most sentimental commercial was the Budweiser one with the eagle and the Clydesdale. How the Post thought that Mr Bunny and the Budweiser commercial were somehow aligned in “wholesome, traditional family values” defies credulity.

What about the influencers? Some people labelled as conservative influencers had a take that I thought called into question their intelligence. Someone named Jake Paul said that Bad Bunny was a “fake American citizen.” Huh? What is a “fake American citizen?” Does Mr Paul think that Mr Bunny and his fellow Puerto Ricans are “fake American citizens” of just Mr Bunny? With an attitude like that I would contend that Mr Paul is the “fake American citizen.” Then there is someone named Laura Loomer, who is reputed to be a MAGA influencer with the ear of the president. Ms Loomer said of the performance “This isn’t White enough for me.” (I thought Mr Bunny was wearing white). She also claimed that she “can’t even watch a Super Bowl anymore because immigrants have literally ruined everything.” If she really said this, Ms. Loomer is a racist fool and anyone influenced by her is also a fool. Was she referring to the eight children of immigrants who were playing in the Super Bowl? Was she referring to the racial mix of the NFL? Maybe she can watch old films of pro football and basketball in the 1950s to see all white sport teams. Or maybe she can watch film of my years at the University of Georgia from 1962-1966 when no black athlete played on the Georgia campus. Or then she probably loves the Winter Olympics – especially the events on snow. Again, anyone who claims to be influenced by this woman should be embarrassed. 

However, on the other side, the laudatory comments were almost as bad and biased – again see the Washington Post. ESPN’s Sportscenter was full of in your face DEI talk and was totally unwatchable. I turned it off. One writer wrote that “the Super Bowl is a color-blind celebration of excellence. It is the exact opposite of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion efforts that the Trump coalition opposes.” To be kind, this is idiotic. This is not the embodiment of DEI at all. It is just the opposite. The Super Bowl and the world of sport have absolutely nothing to do with “equity”. Equity seeks to normalize outcomes. The Super Bowl is the opposite of that. The Super Bowl is about “equality” not “equity.” No player on the field got there in order to meet a quota – which is what equity is all about. They were on the field because of excellence and because of excellence there is inclusion resulting in diversity. 

We don’t want equity in sports which ideally would result in all teams finishing with equal records. We should not want equity in life either. That is why socialism always fails. Sport is the opposite of socialism because it rewards individual excellence, achievement and in teamwork in team sports. Capitalism anyone?

I have opposed Trump’s war on DEI as being misguided. But I also opposed how DEI was implemented, practiced and abused especially in our universities. Years ago I wrote why the left favored “equity” over “equality.” The mess in higher education is a tribute to equity. The Super Bowl and excellence in sport are tributes to equality. And as to influencer, I don’t if this post changed anyone’s mind. Influencer I am not.