The National Football League Remains Resolute on Bad Bunny Halftime Show Appearance Despite Trump Criticism
The NFL will not drop the global music icon as the star attraction for the Super Bowl halftime show, Commissioner Roger Goodell announced on Wednesday.
With this affirmation, Goodell reaffirmed the decision to place the internationally acclaimed singer 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 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 attracted global interest, including a rise in online plays of Bad Bunny’s music alongside opposition.
“It’s carefully thought through,” the commissioner remarked. “I’m not sure we have chosen an performer where we avoided some blowback or disapproval. It’s challenging to do when you have literally hundreds of millions of fans that are watching.”
The reggaeton star, born Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, has been a outspoken critic of Trump. He recently opted to hold a 31-day residency in Puerto Rico, skipping stops in the continental United States, referencing concerns about the mass deportation of Latinos.
The artist, who performs in Spanish, is anticipated to continue this at the Super Bowl.
“We’re confident it will deliver a great show,” Goodell 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 staging the Super Bowl on February 8 at the Santa Clara venue in Santa Clara, California. There is uncertainty if the former president intends to attend, though he has turned appearing in person at major sporting events a significant part of his second term.
Trump in an interview on conservative news network the outlet claimed he had “never heard of” Bad Bunny.
“I don’t know who he is,” he stated. “I don’t know the reasoning behind it. It seems absurd. Additionally, they attribute it to an outside booker they contracted to select entertainment. I think it’s absolutely ridiculous.”
Goodell supported the decision on Wednesday, clarifying it was determined because of Bad Bunny’s massive fanbase.
“He’s one of the leading and best-loved performers in the world,” Goodell affirmed. “This is exactly what we aim to achieve. It’s an important stage for us. It’s an important component to the overall experience.”
