Shakira, Jennifer Lopez promise to 'remember Kobe' at Super Bowl halftime: 'Life is so fragile'
Shakira and Jennifer Lopez promised on Thursday that their Super Bowl halftime performance on Sunday will honor the memory of Kobe Bryant.
Lopez told reporters at a news conference in Miami that she learned of Bryant’s death on Sunday from her fiancé and former MLB player Alex Rodriguez, who was a friend of the fallen NBA star.
“We have to love people when they're here and not wait,” Lopez said. “I think about Vanessa as a mom and losing her best friend and partner and losing her child, you know, how awful that must be for her right now.”
‘I’m sure he’ll be very proud’
Shakira, who’s co-headlining the halftime show with Lopez, said that Bryant will be on her mind as she performs in the scheduled 12-minute show.
“Life is so fragile,” Shakira said. “And that's why we have to live every moment as intensely as we can. And I think we'll all be remembering Kobe on Sunday. And we'll be celebrating life and celebrating diversity in this country.
“I'm sure he'll be very proud to see the message that we're going to try to convey onstage.”
The upcoming performance from the pop stars is being celebrated as a sign of inclusivity and diversity with two Latina stars headlining the show. But it’s not without controversy as the show is a product of the NFL’s relationship with Jay-Z on issues of social justice and entertainment.
The deal with Jay-Z arrived without the blessing of Colin Kaepernick as the quarterback remains blackballed from the league.
Regardless, the show promises to have a better reception than last year’s Maroon 5 debacle.
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