Carlos Santana has debunked viral rumours that he opposed Bad Bunny being booked for next year’s Super Bowl Halftime Show – see what he had to say below.
- READ MORE: Bad Bunny – ‘Debí Tirar Más Fotos’ review: ode to homeland is a new high for the Puerto Rican star
Since Bad Bunny was announced to headline the Super Bowl Halftime Show next February, viral rumours – partially made through AI – have circulated the internet claiming that Mexican-American guitarist Carlos Santana pushed back against the idea of the Puerto Rican rapper playing the coveted slot.
Meanwhile, other posts claimed that Carlos Santana had even petitioned to replace the ‘Perfumito Nuevo’ rapper at the sporting event. Now, in a statement provided to Billboard, Santana and his manager have firmly shot down any talk of opposing Bad Bunny.
Santana’s manager the rampant us of AI to spread misinformation: “AI has accelerated the spread of misinformation, making it harder for the truth to break through the noise. Don’t rely on random or unverified posts — even well-meaning outlets can get misled.”
Santana said in his own statement: “I congratulate and celebrate Bad Bunny’s success and his position right now with the world and with the Super Bowl. I feel total oneness with what he’s doing because we are here to utilize art to complement and bring the world closer to harmony and oneness.”
“However, we’re living in a time of fear, division, separation, superiority and inferiority. Fear is the flavour right now,” he continued. “Fear is what motivates ignorant people to put words in my mouth – saying that I didn’t want Bad Bunny to be represented at the Super Bowl. I never said that, nor would I ever. Just to be clear, my heart is in total harmony with Bad Bunny, and I celebrate his success, his triumph and his phenomenal achievement. Anything other than that is coming from people’s ignorance.”
“We’re living in a time when hostile forces love to create conflict, separation and division, because the hostile forces don’t like unity, harmony, oneness and joy. They want people to be miserable and to spend too much time in their minds. I spend a lot of time in my heart, and in my heart I celebrate Bad Bunny. I can’t stop playing his song ‘Monaco’ — there’s something really magical about it.”
Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl slot has received a wave of criticism from the ring-wing community, who believe that the rapper – despite hailing from Puerto Rico, a territory of the United States – should not be performing at the sporting event.
The right-wing backlash to the news was almost immediate, with US Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem criticising the NFL for choosing him as their halftime performer, despite the largely Spanish-performing artist being a US citizen.
Meanwhile Trump’s administration has confirmed that ICE agents will be present at the Super Bowl to apprehend any illegal immigrants, and the President himself has branded Halftime Show slot “crazy” and says he’s “never heard of him”.
Right-wing organisation Turning Point USA – which was founded by prominent Trump supporter Charlie Kirk, who was shot dead last month – has announced the ‘All American Halftime Show’ in opposition to Bad Bunny’s Halftime Show and promised that performers and further details would be revealed soon.
The post Carlos Santana shuts down viral rumours he opposed Bad Bunny’s booking for the 2026 Super Bowl Halftime Show appeared first on NME.
