Jennifer Lopez mentioned her confusion over the backlash regarding Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl halftime show, especially after Donald Trump voiced his dissatisfaction with the performer on Monday.
The Puerto Rican artist, known for singing in Spanish, has openly criticized Trump’s immigration policies and recently disclosed his reluctance to tour in the U.S. due to fears that ICE might target his fans.
His selection for this year’s halftime event has sparked outrage within the MAGA community, leading Trump to tell Newsmax that choosing him to perform was ‘insane.’
Lopez, however, believes the artist will ‘blow everybody’s mind’ as she discussed the controversy on the TODAY show.
Asked by host Craig Melvin what she thought about the controversy, Lopez first said: ‘Is there controversy? I swear I don’t know.’
Melvin then explained that there were ‘a lot of folks who have not been wild about the idea’, to which Lopez hit back at the critics.
Jennifer Lopez said she did not understand the controversy surrounding Bad Bunny
The Puerto Rican artist has been tapped to perform the halftime show at next year’s Super Bowl
The pair are seen together at 2018 at Calibash Los Angeles in 2018 at the formerly-named Staples Center
‘But why? I don’t understand that. He’s one of the top artists in the world right now, probably the top.’
Lopez added that his music ‘transcends language’, and that she was ‘so excited’ for his performance.
Lopez expressed her enthusiasm, saying, ‘I’m thrilled for him. His performance with us in the 2020 Super Bowl, alongside J. Balvin and Shakira, was fantastic. I’m eager to see his next show because he’s a phenomenal entertainer.’
The musician – who was born Benito Antonio Martinez – addressed his haters this weekend as he hosted Saturday Night Live.
Bad Bunny commented, ‘I’m thrilled about performing in the Super Bowl halftime show, and I believe everyone, including Fox News, is happy about it.’
He spoke briefly in Spanish before concluding, ‘If you couldn’t understand what I said, you have four months to learn!’
In the Spanish portion of his monologue, Bad Bunny took another shot at his critics and thanked those who paved the way for him.
‘Especially all of the Latinos and Latinas in the world here in the United States who have worked to open doors,’ he said.
President Trump has expressed his disapproval of the Puerto Rican artist getting the gig
As he hosted SNL, Bad Bunny mocked his critics about the decision to let him do the Super Bowl halftime show
‘It’s more than a win for myself, it’s a win for all of us. Our footprints and our contribution in this country, no one will ever be able to take that away or erase it.’
In his single ‘NUEVAYoL’, released over the summer, a voice sounding similar to the president’s is heard issuing an apology to ‘immigrants in America’.
On Monday, the president told Newsmax that he was unfamiliar with the 31-year-old musician but that the NFL was wrong to give him the prestigious gig.
‘I never heard of him, I don’t know who he is, I don’t know why they’re doing it, it’s like, crazy,’ the president said.
He also felt that NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell was blaming the decision ‘on some promoter they hired’ – referring to Jay Z’s Roc Nation being responsible for the production of the show.
‘I think it’s absolutely ridiculous,’ Trump added.
Trump advisor Corey Lewandowski also slammed the decision to have Bad Bunny perform.
‘It’s so shameful they picked someone who seems to hate America,’ Lewandowski said.
