photo: ©Maryanne-Bilham

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Carlos Santana has issued an official statement on a false story claiming that he criticized the NFL’s decision to book Bad Bunny for the 2026 Super Bowl halftime show. In a statement, the guitarist says:

“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.

“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.

“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. We are one – peace on Earth!”

According to a press release from Santana’s team, “Over the last few months, Carlos Santana has been trolled by fake social media posts.” His manager Michael Vrionis added in a statement, “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 socials.”

Santana took part in a pre-game performance at the Super Bowl in 2003. His residency at Las Vegas’ House of Blues at the Mandalay Bay will resume on November 5.