Bad Bunny headlined the 2026 Super Bowl Halftime Show. However, his performance received backlash from a section of the media and members of the US administration for not reflecting “American values.” In a recent interview, Jay-Z, who is involved in selecting Super Bowl halftime performers through his company Roc Nation’s partnership with the NFL, said that his headliner pick was based on the global relevance of the artist rather than a deliberate political move.
Jay-Z wanted to create a “balanced idea” of popular music with Super Bowl pick
In a conversation with GQ, Jay-Z spoke about what it meant to helm a cultural event as significant as the Super Bowl halftime show, stating that he wanted audiences to get a taste of today’s popular music. He noted that, for years, only one side of music had been represented at the event and emphasized the need for broader representation.
“I think everyone should experience music in its totality. And for a lot of years, it was only one side of music that was being represented for whatever reason. We got the opportunity to create a more balanced idea of what popular music is today,” the hip-hop mogul said.
Furthermore, he pointed out that his selection of performers like Bad Bunny for the NFL mega-event was based on global popularity and reach rather than lesser-known indie artists.
“I’m not going out on a limb. These are the most famous people in the world. I didn’t pick the indie artist that I really like from Portland. [This was] the number one streamed artist in the world. ‘I got an idea, let’s let him play.’ [Laughs.] It’s Rihanna,” he remarked.
From Jay-Z’s perspective, Bad Bunny was an obvious pick, given that he was among the most-streamed artists in the world at the time, aligning with the NFL’s broader push to expand its global audience. The pop icon also became the first solo Spanish-language headliner in Super Bowl history.
Bad Bunny, one of the most dominant mainstream artists today, performed largely in Spanish at the show, delivering chart-topping hits like “Tití Me Preguntó,” “Yo Perreo Sola,” “Safaera,” and “Monaco.” The performance was widely celebrated by fans in attendance as well as audiences watching at home.
His Super Bowl LX halftime show drew massive viewership, further underlining its global appeal despite facing backlash from certain sections.
