Jennifer Lopez Defends Bad Bunny on the 'Today' Show, but Her Comments Spark Mixed Reactions

Published 10/06/2025, 11:00 PM EDT

Bad Bunny's selection as the Apple Music Super Bowl LX Halftime Show headliner sparked a cultural debate. Critics questioned his suitability, often citing his Spanish-language music and political stances, arguing the slot should go to a traditional English-language artist with decades of U.S. recognition. This public controversy became a major topic on social media, prompting high-profile figures to weigh in. Most notably, Jennifer Lopez took his side, defending the global superstar amidst the backlash, further intensifying the conversation.

During an appearance on the Today Show to promote her new film, Jennifer Lopez expressed surprise when asked by host Craig Melvin about the reported backlash against Bad Bunny. The singer and actress, who performed alongside him during the 2020 Super Bowl Halftime Show, immediately came to his defense, declaring, "He is one of the top artists in the world right now."

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Jennifer Lopez passionately argued on the Today show that his art "transcends language" and expressed excitement for his performance, believing it would blow everybody’s mind. Lopez insisted that his tremendous global success and stage presence make him an exceptional choice for the performance. The conversation following Lopez’s defense showed a deep split in public opinion, highlighting the cultural fault lines that often accompany Super Bowl Halftime choices.

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Many fans praised Lopez as a supportive queen and a fellow Latin, agreeing that Bad Bunny’s global appeal justifies his slot. Other comments continued the initial controversy.

Jennifer Lopez’s defence and the ongoing cultural debate

Many fans praised Jennifer Lopez as a supportive queen and a fellow Latina, agreeing that Bad Bunny’s global appeal justifies his slot. However, a strong contingent of critics argued her comments were disingenuous or motivated by self-interest, with some users stating she was simply defending him because of shared heritage. Other comments continued the initial controversy, dismissing his music as not truly transcending language and asserting the Halftime Show should feature more traditional, established American performers, further proving the polarizing nature of the selection.  

  A major theme among the public commentary was the distinction drawn between being controversial and being racist.  

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This division ensures that the conversation will not subside until the night of the performance. Ultimately, the intense social media reaction to both Bad Bunny's selection and Jennifer Lopez's support proves that the Halftime Show remains a flash point for deep-seated cultural and political divisions in America.  

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What are your opinions on the remark made by Jennifer Lopez in support of Bad Bunny? Let us know in the comments below.

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Soma Mitra

423 articles

Soma is a journalist at Netflix Junkie. With a postgraduate degree in Mass Communication, she brings production experience from documentary films like Chandua: Stories on Fabric. Covering the true crime and docu-drama beat, she turns psychological thrillers into sharp, audience-aware storytelling.

Edited By: Aliza Siddiqui

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