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The NFL will not remove Bad Bunny as the star attraction for the prestigious mid-game entertainment, Commissioner Roger Goodell stated this week.

In doing so, Goodell stood by the decision to feature the Puerto Rican artist on the league’s biggest stage, a move that sparked negative reactions from the former president and some of his supporters.

Goodell commented on the debate during his news conference following the league's autumn gathering. This marks the first time he has publicly remarked on the appointment, which has attracted global interest, including a rise in streams of Bad Bunny’s music alongside opposition.

“It’s carefully thought through,” Goodell said. “I doubt we’ve ever selected an artist where we avoided pushback or criticism. It’s challenging to do when you have literally 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 decided to do a month-long concert series in his homeland, avoiding stops in the continental United States, referencing apprehensions about the expulsion of Latinos.

The 31-year-old, who performs primarily in his native language, is anticipated to continue this at the Super Bowl.

“We believe it will deliver a spectacular performance,” the NFL commissioner commented. “He is aware of the platform that he has, and in my view it’s going to be exciting and a united experience.”

The San Francisco 49ers are hosting the championship game on 8 February at the Santa Clara venue in Santa Clara, California. There is uncertainty if the former president intends to attend, though he has turned physical attendance at high-profile games a key aspect of his second term.

The political figure during a discussion on right-leaning media the outlet claimed he had “no knowledge of” the performer.

“I don’t know who he is,” he stated. “I can’t comprehend the reasoning behind it. It seems absurd. Additionally, they attribute it to an outside booker they hired to select talent. In my opinion it’s absolutely ridiculous.”

The commissioner supported the choice this week, clarifying it was made because of Bad Bunny’s immense popularity.

“He’s one of the leading and most popular performers globally,” he said. “That’s what we aim to achieve. It’s an important stage for us. It serves as a key element to the entertainment value.”