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The NFL will not remove Bad Bunny as the star attraction for the Super Bowl halftime show, Commissioner Roger Goodell announced this week.

With this affirmation, Goodell stood by the decision to feature the Puerto Rican artist on the league’s biggest stage, a move that drew negative reactions from the former president and some of his supporters.

Goodell commented on the controversy during his news conference following the league's autumn gathering. This marks the first time he has spoken out on the appointment, which has garnered worldwide attention, including a rise in streams of Bad Bunny’s music alongside backlash.

“It’s carefully thought through,” the commissioner said. “I doubt we have chosen an artist where we didn’t have some blowback or criticism. It’s challenging to do when you have truly hundreds of millions of people that are watching.”

The reggaeton star, whose real name is Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, has been a outspoken critic of the former leader. He recently opted to hold a month-long concert series in his homeland, skipping stops in the continental United States, citing apprehensions about the mass deportation of Latinos.

The artist, who sings in Spanish, is anticipated to continue this at the Super Bowl.

“We’re confident it’s going to be a great show,” Goodell commented. “He understands the platform that he’s on, and in my view it will prove thrilling and a unifying experience.”

The host team are staging the championship game on 8 February at Levi’s Stadium in the Bay Area. There is uncertainty if the former president intends to be there, although he has made physical attendance at major sporting events a key aspect of his second term.

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

“I’m unfamiliar with his identity,” Trump said. “I can’t comprehend why they’re doing it. It’s, like, crazy. Additionally, they attribute it to some promoter they hired to pick up talent. I think it’s absolutely ridiculous.”

Goodell defended the decision this week, explaining it was determined because of Bad Bunny’s immense popularity.

“He ranks among the top and best-loved entertainers globally,” he said. “This is exactly what we try to accomplish. It’s an important stage for the league. It serves as a key component to the overall experience.”