Jay-Z defends Bad Bunny as Super Bowl 2026 halftime show choice: 'They love him'

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: The choice of Bad Bunny as Super Bowl 2026 halftime show headliner has sparked quite a controversy, but Jay-Z is standing up for his selection. The founder of Roc Nation implied that the criticism over the selection is unreal and asserted that the Puerto Rican artist is widely loved.

Responding to the criticism, Jay-Z offered his perspective favoring the artist, after the NFL officials had already given their comments on it.

Jay-Z dismisses controversy on Bad Bunny 

Jay-Z, whose Roc Nation helps to decide the headliner act of the halftime show, has addressed the controversy surrounding Bad Bunny. When TMZ questioned Jay-Z in New York concerning the "hating," he responded, "They love him. Don't let them fool you," reaffirming his support for the three-time Grammy winner. 

That's not the first time Jay-Z has advocated for the artist. When the NFL released the headliner last September, Jay-Z said, “What Benito has done and continues to do for Puerto Rico is truly inspiring. We are honored to have him on the world's biggest stage.”

Roger Goodell said controversy expected in selection process

Jay-Z's defense followed shortly after NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell dismissed the criticisms about the artist's booking while talking to The Blast: “I'm not sure we've ever selected an artist where we didn't have some blowback or criticism," he said.“It's pretty hard to do when you have literally hundreds of millions of people that are watching.” 

Goodell was confident that Bad Bunny's performance will provide a moment that would be a "unifying moment around the globe."

Critics demand 'American' music over international pop

The strongest opposition to the choice has centered on the music style and language of Bad Bunny, with some of his critics claiming that he does not reflect true American music. President Donald Trump was among those public figures who criticized the selection as "absolutely ridiculous."

Interviewed by Newsmax's "Greg Kelly Reports," Trump stated he did not know the artist. When the host described the artist, Bad Bunny, as one who "hates ICE" and calls criticism racism, Trump replied, "I've never heard of him... I don't know who he is."

According to The Blast, a Change.org online petition got more than fifty thousand signatures demanding Bad Bunny be replaced by country singer George Strait.

The petition stated that Strait's music reflects“unity, tradition, and the timeless American music that truly deserves the 2026 Super Bowl spotlight,” and that the event should be traditional American values instead of contemporary pop or politically used.

Fans point to artist's international appeal and US connection

Back in early October, when former race car driver Danica Patrick publicly ridiculed the choice, declaring, “no songs in English should not be allowed”, she came under immediate fire. Fans reminded her that Bad Bunny is American, since Puerto Rico is a US territory.

Meanwhile, others stood up for his international appeal, citing his 77 million monthly Spotify listeners as proof of his enormous popularity.