Carlos Santana has set the record straight after a false story circulated online claiming the legendary guitarist had criticized the NFL’s choice of Bad Bunny for the 2026 Super Bowl halftime show.
In a statement shared to his official social media channels, Santana called the rumor “totally false,” reaffirming his admiration for the Puerto Rican superstar and his support for the unifying power of music.
“I congratulate and celebrate Bad Bunny’s success and his position right now with the world and with the Super Bowl,” Santana said. “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.”
Santana went on to condemn the online trolls who fabricated the comments, saying they are motivated by “fear” and division.
“Fear is the flavor right now,” he said. “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.”
The guitarist emphasized his respect for Bad Bunny. “In my heart I celebrate Bad Bunny,” Santana added. “I can’t stop playing his song ‘Monaco’ – there’s something really magical about it.”
Santana used the moment to call for positivity and discernment in an era of rampant misinformation, urging people to “create a dialogue for America of unity, harmony and oneness.”
The guitarist concluded, “Santana is all about bringing unity, harmony, oneness, hope, courage, enthusiasm, light, spirit and soul. Peace in your heart, peace in your mind, peace in your family and peace on Earth.”
According to Santana’s manager, Michael Vrionis, the incident reflects a broader problem: the spread of AI-generated misinformation.
“AI has accelerated the spread of misinformation, making it harder for the truth to break through the noise,” Vrionis said. “Don’t rely on random or unverified posts – even well-meaning outlets can get misled. The best way to stay informed is to check the source: www.santana.com and Carlos’ official social media accounts.”
Read the full statement below.
Carlos Santana Responds to False Bad Bunny-NFL Story:
In response to the totally false story generated by internet trolls yesterday suggesting that he had criticized the NFL’s choice of Bad Bunny for the 2026 Super Bowl halftime show, guitarist Carlos Santana has issued the following statement to set the record straight:
“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 flavor right now. 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.”
He continued, “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.
“Angels gravitate to light. Anybody who believes I could say the fabricated comments about Bad Bunny are not in harmony with themselves. The people who make up such things – I invite them to do something more creative with their energy. If you’re going to create a dialogue, create a dialogue for America of unity, harmony and oneness. Lord knows we need it right now.
Santana added, “In conclusion, let me say this: Santana is all about bringing unity, harmony, oneness, hope, courage, enthusiasm, light, spirit and soul. Peace in your heart, peace in your mind, peace in your family and peace on Earth.”
Over the last few months, Carlos Santana has been trolled by fake social media posts.
Santana’s manager Michael Vrionis says, “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. The best way to stay informed is to check the source: www.santana.com and Carlos’ official social media accounts.