The buzz around Bad Bunny headlining the upcoming Super Bowl halftime show has certainly stirred things up. But for superstar Jennifer Lopez, the whole fuss is a head-scratcher. J.Lo, who is 56, spoke about the controversy on the Today show this past Monday, October 6. She made it clear she’s beyond excited for the Grammy winner’s performance.
“I think he’s about to blow everyone’s minds,” Lopez exclaimed. She added that for some, it will be their first time hearing his music. Interestingly, J.Lo told host Craig Melvin that she didn’t even know there was a controversy until he brought it up.
“I swear I don’t know,” she said. “Why? But why? I don’t get it. He is one of the biggest artists in the world right now, probably the biggest.”
Melvin, who is 46, explained that some critics feel a different artist should lead the halftime show. But Lopez, thinking about Bad Bunny, who is 31, believes he’s the perfect fit. “It could be a lot of different people. That’s the thing,” she told Melvin. “I’m super excited for people to see him. I think they’re going to be pleasantly surprised, because his music goes beyond language. It’s incredible what he’s achieved. He’s done something many people have never done in their lives.”
Lopez also had nothing but good memories from her own Super Bowl halftime show in 2020. Bad Bunny joined her on stage that year. “Shakira, Bad Bunny, J Balvin and I — and we had an incredible time,” she remembered. “It was a very cultural moment.”
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Before the official announcement, rumors flew about Adele or Taylor Swift possibly headlining the 2026 show. Then, in September, Bad Bunny (whose real name is Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio) was confirmed. This news immediately sparked backlash from conservative commentators. They seemed bothered by everything from his Spanish lyrics to his choice not to tour in the United States. He fears that ICE might raid his venues during concerts.
Even former President Donald Trump weighed in this past Monday. During an interview with Newsmax, he claimed he had “never heard” of Bad Bunny. “I don’t know who he is, I don’t know why they do it — it’s crazy,” said Trump, who is 79. “They blame some promoter they hired to handle the entertainment. It seems absolutely ridiculous to me.”
Bad Bunny himself took a moment to address his critics. He hosted Saturday Night Live on Saturday, October 4. “I’m very happy, and I think everyone is happy about it — even Fox News,” he joked during his monologue. The variety show then played an edited news montage. It showed clips saying, “Bad Bunny is my favorite musician and should be the next president.”
The "Nuevayol" artist then said that “people all over the world who love my music” are excited for the performance. He then added in Spanish: “Especially all the Latinos and Latinas of the world here in the United States who have worked to open doors. It is more than a victory for me, it is a victory for all of us. Our footprint and our contribution in this country, no one will ever be able to take them away or erase them.”
Super Bowl LX is scheduled for February 8, 2026.