NFL Remains Resolute on Puerto Rican Superstar Halftime Show Appearance Amid Trump Backlash
America's top football league has no plans to remove Bad Bunny as the star attraction for the prestigious mid-game entertainment, League chief Roger Goodell announced on Wednesday.
With this affirmation, Goodell reaffirmed the decision to place the Puerto Rican artist on the league’s biggest stage, a move that drew negative reactions from the former president and his political base.
Goodell addressed the controversy during his media briefing following the annual fall owners meeting. This marks the initial instance he has publicly remarked on the selection, which has attracted worldwide attention, including a rise in streams of Bad Bunny’s music alongside opposition.
“It’s carefully thought through,” the commissioner remarked. “I doubt we’ve ever selected an artist where we didn’t have some blowback or disapproval. It’s challenging to do when you have literally hundreds of millions of fans that are watching.”
Bad Bunny, whose real name is Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, has been a vocal opponent of Trump. He recently opted to do a 31-day residency in Puerto Rico, skipping stops in the continental United States, citing concerns about the mass deportation of Latinos.
The artist, who sings primarily in his native language, is anticipated to continue this at the Super Bowl.
“We’re confident it’s going to be a great show,” the NFL commissioner said. “He is aware of the opportunity that he’s on, and in my view it’s going to be exciting and a united moment.”
The San Francisco 49ers are staging the Super Bowl on February 8 at the Santa Clara venue in the Bay Area. There is uncertainty if the former president plans to be there, though he has turned physical attendance at high-profile games a significant part of his current presidency.
Trump during a discussion on conservative news network Newsmax said 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 seems absurd. Additionally, they attribute it to some promoter they hired to select talent. I think it’s absolutely ridiculous.”
Goodell supported the choice on Wednesday, explaining it was determined because of Bad Bunny’s massive fanbase.
“He ranks among the top and most popular performers in the world,” Goodell affirmed. “This is exactly what we aim to achieve. It’s an important platform for us. It’s an important component to the overall experience.”