Colorado Bar Owner Faces Racism Claims After Screening Conservative Halftime Show
A sports bar owner in Aurora, Colorado, has been accused of racism and inundated with one-star online reviews after deciding to air Turning Point USA's All-American Halftime Show alongside Bad Bunny's official Super Bowl LX performance. Danielle Jurinsky, the 41-year-old proprietor of JJ's Place, maintains she was simply responding to customer demand when she made the controversial programming choice during Sunday's big game.
Customer Requests Spark Controversial Decision
Jurinsky told the Daily Mail that patrons began asking about halftime show options even before sitting down to review menus. 'People were walking through the door and before they would even sit down to look at the menu, asking: Which halftime show are you going to be showing?' she explained. According to the bar owner, approximately 80 percent of customers expressed interest in watching the TPUSA alternative show, prompting her to split her television screens between both broadcasts.
'I just put the TVs on half and half,' Jurinsky detailed. 'I let Bad Bunny be on the sound for a little bit, and then I switched the sound to Turning Point.' The mother-of-one, who has operated the establishment for six years, regularly shows multiple sporting events simultaneously and did not anticipate this particular decision would ignite such intense controversy.
Protest Escalates Into Accusations and Online Backlash
The atmosphere deteriorated rapidly when a group of customers protested the audio switch by using the jukebox to play Bad Bunny songs. When the football game resumed and other patrons requested the sound be restored for gameplay, the protesting group demanded refunds and allegedly hurled abuse at staff members, accusing them of favoring white customers.
'These gals started calling me a racist,' a stunned Jurinsky recounted. One member of the group, local Mexican singer Monica the Great, subsequently posted an angry social media tirade that triggered a wave of negative Yelp reviews targeting the establishment.
Monica wrote on Instagram: 'F*** your racist ass bar tenders. I didn't even get a chance to watch the half-time because they accommodated the white racist people in the bar.' She did acknowledge that 'there was this nice white lady with glasses, she apologized a million times and gave us our money back' – a reference to Jurinsky's actions.
Owner Responds to Allegations and Political Interpretations
Jurinsky, a Republican voter and former Aurora city council member who served in the U.S. Air Force, insists her decision carried no political motivation. 'Probably 75 percent of the people who come through the doors, they have no idea what the political views of the owner are,' she emphasized. The bar had not advertised that it would screen the TPUSA event and is not known as a political establishment.
After becoming aware of the negative reviews, Jurinsky began reporting them and shared her perspective on social media platform X. This prompted an influx of positive reviews, donations, and gift card purchases from supporters. However, some critics have accused her of fabricating the entire incident to generate favorable ratings.
'I had to refund money. I had to tolerate bad reviews,' Jurinsky stated. 'All of these people who are calling me a liar, there's nothing I can say. I'm not lying. This girl put this video up, and this is what happened.'
Broader Context of Competing Halftime Shows
Turning Point USA organized their All-American Halftime Show as conservative counter-programming to the official Super Bowl halftime performance featuring Puerto Rican rapper Bad Bunny. The TPUSA stream, dedicated to late founder Charlie Kirk, featured country artists Brantley Gilbert, Lee Brice, Gabby Barrett, and Kid Rock, attracting at least 20 million views across various social media platforms.
Bad Bunny's performance itself generated controversy when he prominently displayed Puerto Rican flags during his set, drawing criticism from some quarters including former President Donald Trump, who labeled it 'one of the worst ever.'
Monica has since modified her position regarding Jurinsky, questioning on Instagram whether the bar owner might be 'very MAGA' and possibly wanted her group to leave despite initially acknowledging the owner's courteous treatment. Monica has been contacted for additional comment regarding the ongoing dispute.
