After all the speculation, it’s just been confirmed that Jay-Z will indeed headline the Super Bowl halftime show in February 2027 – and the internet is extremely unhappy about it!
The 56-year-old rapper will headline the Apple Music Super Bowl LXI Halftime Show at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California on February 14th, 2027. However, the decision has sparked considerable backlash, particularly because Jay-Z’s company, Roc Nation, has been involved in producing the halftime show since 2019.
Some football fans have accused him of essentially picking himself for the prestigious gig, while others have brought up his past association with Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs in their criticism of him being the headliner, as well as past reports of his name allegedly appearing in the Epstein files. Keep reading to find out more…
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Fans Slam Jay-Z's Super Bowl Halftime Show Announcement
Jay-Z faced criticism from NFL fans earlier this year after attending the Super Bowl with his and Beyoncé's daughter, Blue Ivy. And the backlash has only intensified now that he's been announced as the next halftime show headliner, following in the footsteps of stars such as Rihanna, Shakira and Jennifer Lopez, and Bad Bunny.
Much of the criticism centered on fans accusing Jay-Z of picking himself for the coveted gig. "Bro really picked himself," wrote one unimpressed X user. "Pretty pathetic to give the opportunity to yourself," agreed a second.
"Let me get this straight… Somehow Jay-Z is in charge of picking the halftime show performer… and he picked himself… I'm cringing," commented a third.
Others were simply disappointed by the choice of performer, with some even threatening to switch off the halftime show altogether.
"Just when I thought the halftime shows couldn't get any worse... seriously stop partnering with Roc Nation. Their shows are trash," slammed a fourth. "Miley was literally the perfect choice… Nobody wanted Jay-Z," wrote a fifth, referring to Miley Cyrus. "Nobody wants this," agreed a sixth.
"This is about to be the worst Super Bowl halftime show ever," predicted a seventh. "Nobody and I mean nobody asked for this!" exclaimed an eighth. "No one wants to watch Jay-Z. No one," insisted a ninth. "Another halftime show most Americans will turn off!!" added a tenth.
The criticism didn't stop there, as other social media users brought up Jay-Z's past connections, including reports that he was named in the Epstein files. Some also referenced more serious, unverified allegations. "The same Jay-Z associated with Diddy and Epstein?" questioned an eleventh, as a twelfth said: "We really want the 56-year-old Diddy associate performing at the Super Bowl."
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell Defends Jay-Z As Rapper Responds To Backlash
Despite the overwhelmingly negative reactions from some social media users, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has stood firmly behind the decision, revealing that he has wanted Jay-Z to headline the show for years...
"When we first reached an agreement with Roc Nation to produce the show, I had just one request: that Jay-Z take the stage himself one day, whenever the moment felt right to him," Goodell said in a statement. "I couldn't be more excited for fans around the world to experience the artistry, creativity and cultural impact he will bring to the Super Bowl stage."
Jay-Z himself doesn't appear to be losing any sleep over the criticism, either –or the pressure of performing in front of millions of viewers. When TMZ caught up with him in New York on Tuesday, October 27th and asked whether he felt any pressure ahead of the highly anticipated performance, he simply replied: "I don't have pressure."
When asked how he planned to prepare for the show, he reportedly responded, "Same as always," before getting into his vehicle.
