Jay-Z’s Five-Word Response Shuts Down Criticism Of Bad Bunny As 2026 Super Bowl Halftime Show Headliner

As part of the decision-makers behind selecting Bad Bunny as the headliner for the Super Bowl 2026 halftime show, Jay-Z doesn't seem to regret his choice. Instead, he believes the backlash over the selection is unreal.

The controversy over the Puerto Rican artist being chosen to perform on football's biggest night next February continues to simmer.

Following comments from the NFL's leadership on the controversy, Jay-Z has become the latest of the show's organizers to respond to critics.

On Monday, October 27, the Roc Nation founder, whose company helps decide the headliner of the halftime show each year, broke his silence amid the outrage surrounding Bad Bunny.  

When TMZ caught up with Jay-Z, whose real name is Shawn Carter, in New York, the interviewer asked, “Why are they hating?” to which the rapper replied, “They love him. Don't let them fool you,” hinting that he’s standing by Bad Bunny.

The “Forever Young” rapper’s response may not be shocking, as earlier in September, when the NFL announced the headliner, he did not shy away from singing Bad Bunny’s praises. 

At that time, Jay-Z said per The Blast, “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.”

Jay- Z’s reaction comes a few days after NFL commissioner Roger Goodell dismissed the criticisms about the organization’s selection, emphasizing that the decision was well-considered.

As The Blast previously covered, Goodell noted that controversy tends to accompany nearly every artist chosen for the coveted spot. 

“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.”

 The official went ahead to share his confidence in the artist’s ability, saying that his performance would serve as a unifying moment across the world.

Before Jay-Z and Goodell’s defense of the “Mia” singer came in, the Super Bowl booking had already drawn reactions from several notable figures, including Donald Trump. 

According to The Blast, the U.S. leader didn't hold back, slamming the NFL's choice as "absolutely ridiculous." Speaking on Newsmax's “Greg Kelly Reports,” the president admitted he had no idea who the three-time Grammy winner was.

When host Greg Kelly described Bad Bunny as someone who "hates ICE" and often labels criticism as racism, Trump replied, "I've never heard of him... I don't know who he is."

Adding to Trump’s clear disapproval, a Change.org petition reported by The Blast called for replacing Bad Bunny with George Strait and has gathered over fifty thousand signatures.

Making a case for why the “I Like It” collaborator is unfit to take the stage for the prestigious event, the critics pointed out that his style of music does not reflect true American music.

According to the petition, Strait’s style, on the other hand, embodies “unity, tradition, and the timeless American music that truly deserves the 2026 Super Bowl spotlight.” 

They further argued that the forthcoming event should celebrate the musical roots that shaped America's identity, unlike the former ones that have centered on modern pop and international acts.

It then claimed the occasion ought to bring people together and reflect traditional American values, rather than being used to make political statements.

While many oppose Bad Bunny’s halftime booking, others support it.  Earlier in October, when ex-race car driver Danica Patrick mocked the Grammy winner, calling his gig "fun" and saying “no songs in English should not be allowed” at America's big occasions, she was quickly slammed.

Many users reminded her that Puerto Rico is a U.S. territory, meaning Bad Bunny is also American. Others defended the artist's global influence, highlighting his 77 million monthly Spotify listeners as proof of his massive popularity and cultural relevance.

One fan wrote, “He's Puerto Rican, which is also a US territory that happens to speak Spanish. If you don't want people [to] speak in Spanish, maybe you shouldn't own Spanish-speaking territories.”