SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. (TDR) — Rock icon Carlos Santana took to social media Monday to silence internet trolls who fabricated statements suggesting he opposed Bad Bunny’s selection as the 2026 Super Bowl halftime headliner. The legendary guitarist’s emphatic response highlights a growing problem plaguing celebrities: AI-powered misinformation campaigns that put words in their mouths.

“I congratulate and celebrate Bad Bunny’s success and his position right now with the world and with the Super Bowl,” Santana said in a statement shared across his verified channels. “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.”

The false narrative spreads

Viral Facebook posts claimed Santana not only criticized the younger artist for past fashion choices but also launched a petition to replace him as the halftime performer. The fabricated story gained traction across social platforms, forcing the 10-time Grammy winner to address what his manager called a coordinated disinformation campaign.

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Michael Vrionis, Santana’s longtime manager, pointed directly at artificial intelligence as the culprit. “AI has accelerated the spread of misinformation, making it harder for the truth to break through the noise,” Vrionis explained. “Don’t rely on random or unverified posts — even well-meaning outlets can get misled.”

Fear is the flavor right now. Fear is what motivates ignorant people to put words in my mouth.

Santana’s message of unity

The 78-year-old guitarist didn’t simply deny the claims. He delivered a passionate defense of Bad Bunny while calling out the divisive tactics behind the fake story. “We’re living in a time of fear, division, separation, superiority and inferiority,” Santana 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.”

Santana revealed he’s actually a fan of the Puerto Rican megastar’s music, specifically praising the song “Monaco.” “I can’t stop playing his song ‘Monaco’ — there’s something really magical about it,” he said. “In my heart I celebrate Bad Bunny.”

Super Bowl controversy context

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Bad Bunny’s September announcement as the 2026 Super Bowl halftime performer sparked immediate backlash from conservative commentators and political figures, including President Donald Trump. Critics focused primarily on the fact that Bad Bunny performs almost exclusively in Spanish, making this the first Super Bowl halftime show in a language other than English.

The three-time Grammy winner, whose real name is Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, recently wrapped a historic 31-show residency in Puerto Rico that generated hundreds of millions in tourism revenue. He leads all nominees at the upcoming Latin Grammys with 12 nominations and ranks among the most-streamed artists globally.

Some critics have organized petitions calling for country star George Strait to replace Bad Bunny, while conservative group Turning Point USA announced plans for a counter-programming event during the halftime show. Despite the controversy, Bad Bunny has maintained his characteristic humor, joking on Saturday Night Live that critics have “four months to learn” Spanish.

AI misinformation epidemic

Santana joins a growing list of celebrities victimized by AI-generated fake content. Recent months have seen fabricated statements attributed to actors like Scarlett Johansson and TV personality Steve Harvey, who described AI scams using his likeness as being at “an all-time high” in 2025.

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The issue has reached such severity that Congress is considering multiple bills to address AI-generated deepfakes, including the No Fakes Act and the Take It Down Act. Hollywood organizations including the Screen Actors Guild and Motion Picture Association have thrown their support behind legislative solutions.

A call for creativity over division

Santana closed his statement with a challenge to those spreading false information. “The people who make up such things — I invite them to do something more creative with their energy,” he said. “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.”

The guitarist emphasized his lifelong commitment to bringing people together through music. “Santana is all about bringing unity, harmony, oneness, hope, courage, enthusiasm, light, spirit and soul,” he concluded. “Peace in your heart, peace in your mind, peace in your family. We are one — peace on Earth.”

Should celebrities have stronger legal protections against AI-generated fake statements that damage reputations or spread misinformation?

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