Super Bowl

Taylor Armstrong is backpedaling hard ... apologizing after saying she was embarrassed by Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl halftime show.

As you know, the "RHOBH" alum blasted the performance for being "totally in Spanish with a Cuban flag!!" ... but in a lengthy IG post Wednesday, she clarified she simply didn’t personally connect with the show's creative direction.

Taylor said as an American she understands Spanish is a major part of U.S. culture ... and she confessed her "lack of awareness of the Latin culture" led her to mistakenly label the flag Cuban.

WrestleMania is now only just over 60 days away, and while Cody Rhodes isn't paid to be the matchmaker in WWE ... he tells TMZ Sports there's one he would love to see in Sin City come April -- Logan Paul vs. Bad Bunny!!

We caught up with the former Undisputed WWE Champion in New York City, where we asked him whether he hopes BB finds his way back to the WWE in time for WrestleMania 42.

"I hope we get him back," Rhodes said. "He did a wonderful job, but he's on top of the world right now."

Russell Wilson might be sleeping on the couch for a few nights ... 'cause Ciara wanted him to reveal which meant more -- his Super Bowl or his wedding ring -- and he chose to eat a scorching-hot wing instead!!

The NFL quarterback sat firmly on the hot seat during an episode of "Hot Ones Versus" this week ... when the power couple hit each other with spicy questions -- and the only way out was to take a bite of some chicken doused in hot sauce.

When CiCi asked RW whether the bling from his Seahawks championship or his marriage had more value in his heart ... Wilson elected to stay silent -- but let his taste buds scream.

Sam Darnold’s Super Bowl story is Hollywood-worthy -- and the Seahawks QB has a few A-list ideas about who should play him if/when a movie eventually gets made.

Fresh off hoisting the Lombardi Trophy, Darnold joked to TMZ Sports that if his unlikely redemption arc ever hits the big screen, he’s got a surprising casting shortlist ready to go.

"Ron Weasley?" Darnold said ... laughing while trying to remember actor Rupert Grint’s name. "Trying to think of the one person who has red hair in Hollywood."

San Francisco 49ers defensive lineman Keion White is breaking his silence after he was shot in the ankle ... but the third-year pro made no comment on the reports that the incident came following an argument with Lil Baby.

White took to his Instagram Tuesday night to thank everyone who reached out to him after the Bay Area incident ... and shared visual evidence that he's in good spirits, despite needing surgery.

"For those who know me, y'all know this won't stope me from spreading peace and joy to the world," White said. "Full steam ahead. I'm in great spirits and ready to make the most of this off-season."

Jill Zarin is struggling to process her sudden firing from E!'s upcoming reunion series "The Golden Life" and TMZ has learned she feels blindsided by the fallout.

In case you didn't know ... Blink49 Studios cut ties with Jill Tuesday following her posting -- then deleting -- an Instagram video Sunday, criticizing Bad Bunny's Super Bowl Halftime Show. The comments, later reposted on X, sparked backlash and ultimately led to her firing from the show.

Sources familiar with the situation tell TMZ ... Jill believes she was punished for expressing an opinion, while other Housewives have said or done far worse without facing similar consequences. People close to Jill have told us they strongly dispute accusations that her comments were insensitive, insisting anyone who personally knows her would say that characterization is unfair.

Champion boxer Xander Zayas was handpicked by Bad Bunny for his role in the Super Bowl halftime show ... a part that was originally intended to be played by male models!

That's what the 23-0 fighter told TMZ Sports after he was spotted on the field in his boxing trunks and gloves during Benito's routine at Levi's Stadium on Sunday.

Zayas revealed that Bad Bunny was initially going to have a pair of models act as boxers, but called an audible, reaching out to his undefeated boxer friend personally, and offering him a chance to grace the big stage.

The chaos and controversy surrounding Bad Bunny's Super Bowl halftime performance did NOT hurt the viewership numbers -- 128.2 million people tuned in to watch!

The numbers for the "DtMF" singer were announced by NBC on Tuesday, confirming that fans had their TVs stuck on the Super Bowl during halftime to watch Bad Bunny do his thing.

The performance didn't lack star power ... with special guests like Cardi B, Lady Gaga, and Ricky Martin as part of the show.

Despite the strong numbers, it wasn't the most-watched halftime show ever. By comparison, last year's halftime performance with Kendrick Lamar drew a historic 133.5 million viewers across TV and digital platforms.

Jill Zarin suffered a huge own goal today ... the original "The Real Housewives of New York City" cast member was fired from E! reunion show "The Golden Life" following a wild tirade against Bad Bunny's Super Bowl Halftime Show.

Blink49 Studios -- the production company behind "The Golden Life" -- issued a statement to TMZ, writing ... "In light of recent public comments made by Jill Zarin, Blink49 Studios has decided not to move forward with her involvement in ‘The Golden Life.’ We remain committed to delivering the series in line with our company standards and values.”

A source close to the situation tells TMZ ... the cast had been warned not to say or do anything controversial, and while the women were initially excited about the show, Jill's actions have dampened the mood though the other women understand why she was fired.

Jill's controversial comments were made in an Instagram post, which she deleted, but users later reposted on X.

Teddy Riley is ridin' hard for Chris Brown -- telling TMZ there’s nothing shady about Breezy's comment on Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl performance and, in his book, he did nothing wrong!

We caught up with Teddy in NYC Tuesday, and he straight-up co-signed Chris’ IG post -- "I think it’s safe to say … they need me!" -- agreeing Brown absolutely belonged on that iconic stage.

Watch the clip, 'cause Teddy makes one thing clear: he’s not anti-BB. He gives the performance its flowers. But -- and it’s a big but -- he says when it comes to events like the Super Bowl, ratings matter.

Justina Emmanwori’s Super Bowl learning curve is officially complete -- ’cause the proud mom says she went from barely knowing what a touchdown was … to fully embracing the game after watching her son help deliver a championship.

Fresh off the Seahawks’ win over the Patriots, the mother of rookie safety Nick Emmanwori couldn’t hold back her emotions when TMZ Sports caught up with her postgame … admitting she entered as a total newbie but left the night feeling deeply connected to the game and the team.

“I am so proud,” she told us. “Before, I said I don’t know anything about football -- touchdown, yay! But now, it’s big. I know what football is all about.”

9 AM PT -- Kid Rock just posted a video on X denying reports he lip-synced his performance of "Bawitdaba" during the Turning Point USA Halftime Show. His deejay, Paradime, even flew out to rap the song with him live ... to prove they know the lyrics.

It looks like even Kid Rock had to go back and watch Bad Bunny's Super Bowl Halftime Show ... because the country-rap-rock star delivered his critique of BB's performance on Fox News last night.

Rock told Laura Ingraham on "The Ingraham Angle" ... "Like most people, I didn't understand any of it. I saw there's a lot of dancers and a lot of big to-do stuff. And, you know, he said he wanted to have a dance party; it looked like he had one."

And while Rock admitted it wasn't his "cup of tea," he revealed he doesn't have any beef with BB. He's more upset with the NFL.

He clarified ... "I don't fault that kid for doing the Super Bowl, getting in front of a global audience. I fault the NFL for putting him in that position and Turning Point for having to come out and have an alternative for people to watch. You know, it's just -- poor kid."

Bad Bunny used the Super Bowl stage to tell a story about his culture -- and his crew says the message was loud and clear!

TMZ Sports caught up with members of the global superstar’s cast at LAX on Monday after their big halftime performance ... and they say their focus wasn’t just about putting on a show, it was about putting Puerto Rican culture front and center on the world’s biggest stage.

"I was blown away myself," one of his backup dancers, Chris, told us.

"I feel like it’s such a monumental moment culturally. I was born and raised in Puerto Rico and everything they did culturally, I feel like they tapped in perfectly."

Sam Darnold and Kenneth Walker III must've kept their Super Bowl partying to a minimum ... 'cause they didn't hesitate to hop on a spinning tea cup ride at Disneyland on Monday ... and no chunks were blown!!

The Seahawks quarterback and Super Bowl MVP arrived at Disneyland on Monday, fresh off defeating the Patriots, 29-13, in SB LX.

Out of all the rides at the massive theme park, Darnold and Walker III opted for a classic -- the Mad Tea Party -- and judging by the look on their faces, they were loving every spin.

TMZ Sports is going live from the newsroom to discuss the day's biggest stories ... but we don't just want folks to watch and enjoy the conversation, we want y'all to get involved!!

Hit the comment section as Babcock, Lucas, Dylan, Luca, and the whole crew break down the most important topics of the day ... and we'll be interacting with viewers throughout the program between 1 and 2:30 PM PT.

YouTube, X, TikTok ... we're everywhere.

So tune in, make fun of us, share your two cents, sound off about your favorite team ... nothing is out of bounds.

Teigan -- the adorable pooch from Puppy Bowl XXII -- tragically passed away months before the annual event aired on TVs across America ... with the Connecticut animal sanctuary Perfect Imperfections calling it "bittersweet to [see] her on TV."

The Team Fluff member contracted a severe case of pneumonia weeks after filming the 2026 edition of the Puppy Bowl, with the sanctuary saying Teigan was placed on oxygen and given IV fluids after X-Rays revealed the extent of the illness.

"I took her home and set everything up for her so she could continue getting her fluids and oxygen," the rescue center worker said. "I checked on her every two hours to change her position and flush her catheter. I started to get tail wags when I talked to her and for a moment I was hopeful she would beat this again, but knowing her little body had already suffered through this once."