Jennifer Lopez defends Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl performance amid backlash: ‘They’ll be pleasantly surprised’


The singer stood firm in her support.


Jennifer Lopez defends Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl performance amid backlash: ‘They’ll be pleasantly surprised’© VALERIE MACON
Daniel NeiraSenior Writer
OCTOBER 6, 2025 6:37 PM EDT

Jennifer Lopez couldn’t be more thrilled about Bad Bunny headlining the 2026 Super Bowl Halftime Show, and she’s making sure people know it.

While promoting her upcoming movie musical 'Kiss of the Spider Woman' on the Today Show Monday morning, Lopez lit up when asked about the Puerto Rican superstar leading the next Super Bowl performance. 

“I think he’s about to blow everybody’s minds,” she said, praising Bad Bunny’s global appeal and ability to connect with fans beyond language barriers. Lopez reminisced about her own halftime show in 2020, when she and Shakira brought Bad Bunny onstage as a surprise guest at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium. 

© Jeff Kravitz
Jennifer Lopez reminisced about her own halftime show in 2020, when she and Shakira brought Bad Bunny onstage as a surprise guest at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium.

Describing the moment as “a cultural moment,” she looked back fondly on the energy they created together. “He puts on a great show. He’s a great entertainer,” Lopez said. “I’m super excited for people to see him who think that because I think they’ll be pleasantly surprised because his music transcends language. It’s amazing what he’s done.”

© Peacock
Bad Bunny makes history as first Puerto Rican-born artist to headline Super Bowl halftime show

When co-host Craig Melvin brought up the backlash surrounding Bad Bunny’s upcoming performance, Lopez seemed genuinely unaware of the controversy. “I swear I don’t know,” she responded. “Why? But why? I don’t understand that. He’s one of the top artists in the world right now, probably the top.”

Lopez stood firm in her support. “He did something that a lot of people have never done in their life, and I’m so excited for him,” she said.

© Christopher Polk
Bad Bunny and Jennifer Lopez in Los Angeles, 2018 at Staples Center

Her focus wasn’t only on Bad Bunny. Lopez also opened up about her upcoming film, 'Kiss of the Spider Woman,' calling it a long-time dream project. 

While her breakout role was portraying Selena in 1997, Lopez noted that this is her first true movie musical, a role that combines her singing, dancing, and acting. “This is like a dream come true. I get to sing, I get to dance, I get to play a Hollywood movie star,” she said. 

© Jeff Kravitz
Jennifer Lopez lit up when asked about the Puerto Rican superstar leading the next Super Bowl performance.

“There was so much about it that were checks of the bucket list of when I was a little girl and was dreaming of doing this with my life.” She was also asked about her recent divorce from Ben Affleck, as he is an executive producer on the film. 

Lopez, laughing at the mention, credited her ex for helping bring the project to life. “If it wasn’t for Ben the movie would not have got made,” she said. “Things happen… you have to keep going.” She added that the story of 'Kiss of the Spider Woman,' which centers around escapism and resilience, helped her navigate a tough period personally. 

© Kevork Djansezian
Jennifer Lopez couldn’t be more thrilled about Bad Bunny headlining the 2026 Super Bowl Halftime Show

“The movie is about escapism, about how movies and art save us in the hardest times of our lives,” she said. “Doing this project was such a dream come true for me and it really got me through, to survive a moment that was difficult in my personal life as well.”

Lopez even acknowledged that there have been early conversations about possibly bringing 'Spider Woman' to Broadway. “Yeah, I could,” she said with a smile. “There’s been some talk, there’s been some talk about that.”

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