NFL Stands Firm on Bad Bunny Halftime Show Performance Amid Political Backlash
America's top football league will not drop the global music icon as the headline performer for the Super Bowl halftime show, Commissioner Roger Goodell announced this week.
In doing so, Goodell stood by the decision to feature the Puerto Rican artist on the most-watched platform, a move that sparked negative reactions from the former president and his political base.
Goodell addressed the controversy during his news conference following the league's autumn gathering. This marks the initial instance he has publicly remarked on the appointment, which has garnered worldwide attention, including a surge in streams of the artist's catalog alongside opposition.
“The decision was thoroughly considered,” Goodell said. “I doubt we’ve ever selected an artist where we avoided some blowback or criticism. It’s pretty hard to do when you have literally hundreds of millions of people that are watching.”
The reggaeton star, born Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, has been a vocal opponent of Trump. He lately decided to do a month-long concert series in Puerto Rico, skipping stops in the continental United States, citing concerns about the expulsion of Hispanic individuals.
The artist, who sings in Spanish, is expected to do so at the Super Bowl.
“We’re confident it’s going to be a spectacular performance,” the NFL commissioner commented. “He is aware of the opportunity that he’s on, and in my view it’s going to be exciting and a unifying moment.”
The host team are hosting the championship game on February 8 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California. There is uncertainty if the former president plans to attend, though he has turned physical attendance at major sporting events a key aspect of his second term.
The political figure during a discussion on right-leaning media Newsmax said he had “never heard of” Bad Bunny.
“I don’t know his identity,” Trump stated. “I don’t know why they’re doing it. It’s, like, crazy. And then, they blame it on some promoter they hired to pick up entertainment. I think it’s completely unreasonable.”
The commissioner defended the decision on Wednesday, explaining it was made because of the artist’s massive fanbase.
“He’s one of the leading and most popular performers globally,” Goodell affirmed. “That’s what we aim to accomplish. It represents a crucial platform for us. It serves as a key component to the entertainment value.”