In her candid Netflix documentary Halftime, Jennifer Lopez didn’t hold back when reflecting on one of the most high-profile performances of her career — the 2020 Super Bowl LIV Halftime Show. Captured on film and premiered at the Tribeca Festival in 2022, Lopez’s raw comment — “This is the worst idea in the world to have two people do the Super Bowl. It was the worst idea in the world” — offered an unfiltered glimpse into the behind-the-scenes tensions that accompanied the historic moment she shared with fellow Latina superstar Shakira.

While the show itself was celebrated as a milestone for Latina representation on one of the world’s biggest stages, Lopez’s frustrations reveal the complexity beneath the celebration. Her main point of contention? Time. With the NFL offering the typical 12 to 14 minutes — an allotment normally given to a single artist like Lady Gaga (14 minutes in 2017) or Madonna (15 minutes in 2012) — Lopez and Shakira were forced to split a performance window that was already tight.

Speaking with her musical director Kim Burse, Lopez vented about the near-impossible logistics: “We have six fucking minutes. We have 30 seconds of a song, and if we take a minute, that’s it, we’ve got five left… But there’s got to be certain songs that we sing, though. We have to have our singing moments. It’s not going to be a dance fucking revue.” Her passion was clear — the Halftime Show needed to be more than a flashy medley; it needed to tell a story.

Adding fuel to her concerns, Lopez’s longtime manager Benny Medina labeled the arrangement an “insult,” pointing out that it took “two Latinas to do the job that one artist historically has done.” Their remarks weren’t attacks on Shakira — a misconception quickly corrected by both Lopez’s fans and media observers like journalist Tess Garcia, who clarified that Lopez’s frustration was with the NFL’s structure, not her co-headliner.

Public reaction to Lopez’s comments was divided. Some labeled her “entitled,” while others empathized with the logistical nightmare she described. Discussions across social media, including Reddit threads and Buzzfeed reports, emphasized that Lopez fought to ensure Shakira received equal time — challenging the narrative of any internal rivalry.

Ultimately, the controversy highlights a broader issue: whether the NFL’s format truly honored the significance of two global icons sharing the stage, or whether it merely squeezed two powerhouse performances into a box designed for one. Even as her candid comments sparked debate, Lopez’s performance — alongside Shakira — remains a celebrated moment in Super Bowl history, a testament to perseverance, talent, and the complexities behind creating a cultural milestone.