The NFL is not considering removing Bad Bunny as a Super Bowl halftime headliner, commissioner Roger Goodell said Wednesday, reiterating his decision to bring the Grammy-winning Puerto Rican artist to the league’s biggest stage – a decision that has drawn criticism from U.S. President Donald Trump and some of his supporters.
Goodell addressed the Bad Bunny question at his press conference following the annual owners meeting in the fall. It is the first time that he has commented on the decision announced at the end of September. The election has drawn global attention, including an increase in streams of Bad Bunny’s music — and backlash.
“It’s carefully thought out,” Goodell said. “I’m not sure we’ve ever picked an artist where we didn’t get any backlash or criticism. That’s pretty difficult when there are literally hundreds of millions of people watching.”
The 31-year-old, born Benito Antonio Martinez Ocasio, has been vocal against Trump and his policies. He decided to complete a 31-day stay in Puerto Rico, a U.S. territory, but avoided stops in the U.S. mainland, citing concerns about the mass deportation of Latinos.
He performs in Spanish and is expected to do so at the Super Bowl.
Bad Bunny will bring his Latin trap and reggaeton swag to the NFL’s biggest stage next year: headlining the Super Bowl halftime show. However, the Puerto Rican artist criticized Trump-era immigration policies and ICE tactics, and some conservatives view his selection as a political statement.
Trump says he’s never heard of a popular artist
“We’re confident it’s going to be a great show,” Goodell said, acknowledging that other talent could join the line-up alongside Bad Bunny. “He understands the platform he’s on and I think it’s going to be an exciting and shared moment.”
The San Francisco 49ers host the Super Bowl on February 8th at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California. It’s unclear whether Trump plans to be there, although personal appearances at major sporting events are a key part of his second term in the White House.
The NFL remains committed to having Bad Bunny headline the Super Bowl halftime show, commissioner Roger Goodell said at a news conference following the league’s fall meeting. “I think it will be an exciting and shared moment,” Goodell said in response to a reporter’s question about criticism of the selection and the background to the decision.
In an interview with the conservative news channel Newsmax, Trump said he had “never heard of” Bad Bunny.
“I don’t know who he is,” Trump said. “I don’t know why they do this. It’s just crazy. And then they blame it on a promoter they hired to organize entertainment. I find that absolutely ridiculous.”
Goodell defended the decision on Wednesday, saying it was made because of Bad Bunny’s immense popularity.
“He is one of the leading and most popular entertainers in the world,” Goodell said. “That’s what we want to achieve. It’s an important stage for us. It’s an important element for the entertainment value.”
