With the nation divided over whether Bad Bunny deserves to headline the 2026 Super Bowl halftime show, one major star standing firmly in his corner is Marc Anthony.
Anthony and Bad Bunny first teamed up on the 2018 hit "Está Rico." In September, Bad Bunny surprised fans at his final Debi Tirar Más Fotos show in San Juan by bringing Anthony onstage to perform "Preciosa."
Ahead of the Super Bowl, the "Vivir mi vida" artist has now left words of advice for Bad Bunny amid the increasing controversy.
Marc Anthony Reveals High Hopes For Bad Bunny, Tells Him To Be Cautious With The Risks
In a recent interview with Rolling Stone, Anthony openly expressed that he’s rooting for Bad Bunny for his upcoming gig. In fact, Anthony, who performed “America the Beautiful” with Mary J. Blige at Super Bowl XXXVI in 2002, did have wise words for the Puerto Rican star, which he divulged.
"Every time I talk to him, I tell him to just to be responsible with the risk [and] with the responsibility that he's taking on,” Anthony revealed of his advice to Bad Bunny.
He added, “Because I'm sure for him, he sees this as a massive responsibility to represent not only his culture, but his music.” Anthony went on to say he's confident the 31-year-old star will put in the work to deliver an incredible show.
Citing Bad Bunny's creativity and the event’s grand production, he said he was looking forward to the experience and made it clear he won't miss it. "I'll definitely be there, and I'll be the first one cheering him on," Anthony said.
Marc Anthony Says He Sees Himself In Bad Bunny As He Defends Him Against The Backlash
While praising the "I Like It" hitmaker, Anthony was quick to come to his defense, emphasizing that Bad Bunny was well deserving to lead football’s biggest night.
“He's not there because he's lucky,” Anthony argued. “He's there based on merit and everything that he's accomplished.” The 57-year-old went on to commend Bad Bunny's success, even noting the similarities between their careers.
"Bad Bunny reminds me of me when I was younger, he’s just done things his way and he's having fun with it,” Anthony explained, declaring he was proud of how Bad Bunny has introduced Latin music and culture to a wider, global audience.
Jennifer Lopez Backed Bad Bunny, Teased Excitement to Join Him on Stage
Anthony's praise for Bad Bunny comes just weeks after his ex, Jennifer Lopez, stood by the rapper amid the criticism surrounding his Super Bowl announcement.
As The Blast reported, during an appearance on “TODAY,” Lopez expressed surprise and confusion over the hate he received, saying she didn't understand why anyone would question his selection, given that he's currently one of the biggest artists in the world.
She also fondly recalled their 2020 Super Bowl performance, highlighting the fun and chemistry she shared with Shakira, J Balvin, and Bad Bunny on stage.
When asked in a separate interview if she might join him on stage again, the “Hustlers” star enthusiastically replied that she'd "love to" if invited.
How Did the NFL Respond To The Growing Backlash?
Following Lopez's support for Bad Bunny, the NFL finally broke its silence on the controversy, standing firm that the three-time Grammy winner remains their top choice for the halftime show.
According to The Blast, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell explained that the decision was well-considered and acknowledged that criticism was inevitable regardless of who they picked.
"I'm not sure we've ever chosen an artist without some blowback or criticism," Goodell said. "It's pretty hard to avoid when you have literally hundreds of millions of people watching."
For Goodell, one thing was sure: he was confident that the “MIA” singer would do brilliantly well come February 8.
How The NFL Hoped To Calm The Outrage Over Their Bad Bunny Booking
While the NFL is not backing down from its choice of Bad Bunny, the league appears to be easing tensions with a new addition to the festivities.
As The Blast reported, officials announced that singer Sting will headline a spin-off concert as part of the Super Bowl LX Studio 60 series.
The event, set in San Francisco, promises an unforgettable weekend of live music and exclusive meet-ups with NFL players leading up to the big game.
Scheduled for February 6, Sting will take center stage, with the series continuing the following night, February 7, though the lineup for that evening has yet to be announced.