Several right-wing figures and conservative commentators have criticized Roc Nation and the NFL’s decision to headline the Puerto Rican star, but Jay-Z isn’t buying the story.
When Bad Bunny received the news that he would be headlining the halftime show of Super Bowl 2026the call came directly from Jay-Z. In the weeks since the announcement of this historic feat, several right-wing figures and conservative commentators have criticized the Roc Nationthe NFL and the Apple Music for the decision to place one of the most successful artists of all time at the helm of one of the most prestigious musical events in the world. The fact that Bad Bunny Not singing in English and having already taken a clear stance on politics and immigration only fueled the controversy even further. But Jay-Z is not buying this narrative.
“They love him,” he said. Jay-Z in a video recorded by TMZ while signing autographs in New York. “Don’t let them fool you.” His brief response came after the woman behind the camera insisted: “We need to talk about the Bad Bunny”, to which he replied: “I don’t want to talk about anything.” He only relented when she asked more specifically, “Why are people mad at him?”
Last week, the commissioner of NFL, Roger Goodelladdressed the criticism for the first time. “He is one of the most popular artists in the world,” he told The Atlantic. “That’s what we try to achieve. It’s an important element of entertainment value. It’s something carefully planned.”
Goodell added, “I don’t think we’ve ever picked an artist without getting some kind of negative reaction or criticism. Hundreds of millions of people watch it, but I have every confidence it will be a great show.” There’s even a petition circulating to replace Bad Bunny by country singer George Strait as a halftime attraction. Even if all 80,000 people who signed decided to boycott the performance, it’s unlikely that their absence would make any difference to the Puerto Rican star’s ratings.
Either way, he’s not doing it for them. “What I feel goes beyond myself,” he said. Bad Bunny in a statement when news of his performance broke. “It’s for those who came before me and went countless yards so I could come in and score a touchdown…this is for my people, for my culture and for our history. Ve y dile a tu abuela, que we will be el HALFTIME SHOW DEL SUPER BOWL.”
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Source: Rollingstone
Earl Johnson is a music writer at Gossipify, known for his in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the industry. A graduate of USC with a degree in Music, he brings years of experience and passion to his writing. He covers the latest releases and trends, always on the lookout for the next big thing in music.
