Jay-Z stands agency behind Bad Bunny‘s selection for Super Bowl LX’s halftime present, as conservative critics and a viral petition demand the Puerto Rican celebrity get replaced by nation legend George Strait.

The Roc Nation mogul was approached by TMZ in New York City on Monday and requested concerning the mounting criticism surrounding Bad Bunny’s upcoming Super Bowl LX efficiency in New Orleans.

When pressed concerning the hate directed on the reggaeton star, Jay-Z delivered a pointed response.

“They love him, don’t let them fool you,” Jay-Z stated, defending Bad Bunny’s reputation in America regardless of vocal opposition from some quarters.

The billionaire Hip-Hop government’s feedback come as a Change.org petition calling for Bad Bunny’s substitute with George Strait has exploded to over 95,000 signatures.

The petition, began by person Kar Shell, argues the Super Bowl halftime present ought to “unite our country, honor American culture, and remain family-friendly.”

The petition explicitly targets Bad Bunny’s “drag performances and style” as “the opposite of what families expect on football’s biggest stage.”

It promotes George Strait as embodying “unity, tradition, and the timeless American music that truly deserves the 2026 Super Bowl spotlight.”

President-elect Donald Trump additionally weighed in on the controversy, claiming he had by no means heard of Bad Bunny throughout an interview. The feedback added gas to conservative criticism of the NFL’s selection.

The petition organizer later clarified their stance in an replace, stating the objective is to “keep the Super Bowl family-friendly” and “keep politics out of the halftime show.”

They argued that Bad Bunny’s earlier feedback about audiences needing to be taught completely different languages alienated English-speaking followers.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has already confirmed the league is not going to change Bad Bunny regardless of the backlash.

Jay-Z’s Roc Nation has partnered with the NFL since 2019 to pick Super Bowl halftime performers.

Bad Bunny just lately gained the “Best Artist of the 21st Century” trophy on the Latin Billboard Awards, cementing his standing as one in every of music’s most outstanding international stars.

The Puerto Rican artist has damaged quite a few streaming data and offered out huge stadium excursions worldwide.

Super Bowl LX will happen on February 9, 2026, on the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans. Bad Bunny’s efficiency is predicted to be one of many most-watched halftime exhibits in current reminiscence.

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