The controversy began shortly after the announcement in September, when Bad Bunny was officially confirmed to perform at next year’s Super Bowl in February 2026. While millions of fans celebrated the move, conservative commentators and politicians expressed outrage — including former President Donald Trump.
“I’ve never heard of him,” Trump said during a Newsmax interview earlier this month. “I don’t know who he is. I don’t know why they’re doing it. It’s, like, crazy. […] I think it’s absolutely ridiculous.”
The criticism went further with a viral Change.org petition demanding that the NFL replace Bad Bunny with country legend George Strait. The petition, which has already gathered over 95,000 signatures, condemned the reggaetón star’s “drag performances and style,” calling it “the opposite of what families expect on football’s biggest stage.”
When TMZ caught up with Jay-Z in New York City, the billionaire mogul made his stance clear — and his response was short but powerful: “They love him, don’t let them fool you.”
Jay-Z’s defense comes just weeks after Bad Bunny addressed the controversy himself during his Saturday Night Live monologue. “You might not know this, but I’m doing the Super Bowl halftime show and I’m very happy,” he said. “I think everyone is happy about it — even Fox News.”
He then switched to Spanish to deliver a heartfelt message to his community:
“Especially all of the Latinos and Latinas in the world here in the United States who have worked to open doors. It’s more than a win for myself — it’s a win for all of us. Our footprints and our contribution in this country, no one will ever be able to take that away or erase it.”
As the controversy continues, Jay-Z’s backing of Bad Bunny underscores the global reach and representation the NFL halftime stage has come to embody. Despite political criticism, the upcoming performance is shaping up to be one of the most anticipated — and culturally significant — halftime shows in years.
