🔗 Share this article

America's top football league has no plans to remove Bad Bunny as the star attraction for the Super Bowl halftime show, League chief Roger Goodell announced this week.

With this affirmation, Goodell stood by the choice to place the Puerto Rican artist on the league’s biggest stage, a move that drew criticism from Donald Trump and some of his supporters.

Goodell commented on the controversy during his news conference following the annual fall owners meeting. This marks the first time he has spoken out on the appointment, which has attracted worldwide attention, including a surge in streams of the artist's catalog alongside backlash.

“It’s carefully thought through,” the commissioner remarked. “I’m not sure we have chosen an performer where we didn’t have pushback or disapproval. It’s pretty hard to do when you have literally countless viewers of people that are watching.”

The reggaeton star, whose real name is Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, has been a vocal opponent of Trump. He lately opted to hold a 31-day residency in his homeland, skipping performances in the continental United States, referencing apprehensions about the mass deportation of Hispanic individuals.

The artist, who sings in Spanish, is anticipated to do so at the Super Bowl.

“We’re confident it’s going to be a spectacular performance,” Goodell said. “He understands the platform that he has, and I think it’s going to be exciting and a united moment.”

The host team are staging the Super Bowl on 8 February at the Santa Clara venue in Santa Clara, California. There is uncertainty if Trump intends to be there, although he has turned physical attendance at major sporting events a significant part of his second term.

Trump in an interview on conservative news network the outlet said he had “no knowledge of” the performer.

“I don’t know his identity,” he said. “I can’t comprehend the reasoning behind it. It’s, like, crazy. And then, they blame it on an outside booker they contracted to pick up talent. I think it’s completely unreasonable.”

The commissioner supported the choice on Wednesday, clarifying it was determined because of Bad Bunny’s immense popularity.

“He ranks among the leading and most popular entertainers globally,” Goodell affirmed. “That’s what we try to achieve. It represents a crucial stage for the league. It’s an important component to the overall experience.”