Pitbull to host the American Music Awards for the second consecutive year

Source by Jaylon Thompson

Two times's the charm for Pitbull.

The Cuban-American rapper is set to host the American Music Awards for the second consecutive year, Dick Clark Productions announced Monday.

“Mr. Worldwide” hosted the 2013 AMAs and for many of the 12 million viewers who tuned in, his presence on stage – and that of other Latino stars – was a point of controversy and xenophobia.

Viewers took to social media to not only criticize the rapper’s hosting, but to question why he was chosen to host because he “isn’t American.

But it looks like Pitbull and Dick Clark Productions, who puts on the American Music Awards, have shrugged off the criticism. The 2014 AMA will air live Nov. 23 from the Nokia Theatre on ABC.

A few days later, Pitbull will perform during the halftime show on Thanksgiving Day when the Dallas Cowboys play the Philadelphia Eagles. The Nov. 27 game will take place at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, and will air on FOX.

Iggy Azalea is the leading nominee at the AMAs with six nominations. John Legend, Katy Perry and Pharrell Williams have five nominations each. Lorde is up for four honors at the fan-voted show.

Latino superstars Marc Anthony, Enrique Iglesias and Romeo Santos are up for the favorite Latin artist award.

Those acts are all nominated for artist of the year, competing with Beyonce, Luke Bryan, Eminem, Imagine Dragons and One Direction.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.