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America's top football league has no plans to remove Bad Bunny as the headline performer for the Super Bowl halftime show, Commissioner Roger Goodell announced on Wednesday.

In doing so, Goodell reaffirmed the choice to feature the internationally acclaimed singer on the most-watched platform, a move that drew criticism from the former president and some of his supporters.

Goodell commented on the debate during his news conference following the annual fall owners meeting. This marks the first time he has spoken out on the appointment, which has garnered global interest, including a surge in online plays of Bad Bunny’s music alongside backlash.

“It’s carefully thought through,” the commissioner remarked. “I doubt we’ve ever selected an performer where we avoided pushback or disapproval. It’s challenging to do when you have truly countless viewers of fans tuning in.”

Bad Bunny, whose real name is Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, has been a vocal opponent of Trump. He lately opted to hold a month-long concert series in his homeland, skipping performances in the mainland US, citing concerns 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’re confident it will deliver a great show,” the NFL commissioner commented. “He is aware of the opportunity that he’s on, and I think it’s going to be exciting and a unifying experience.”

The San Francisco 49ers are staging the championship game on 8 February at Levi’s Stadium in the Bay Area. There is uncertainty if Trump plans to be there, although he has made appearing in person at major sporting events a significant part of his current presidency.

Trump during a discussion on right-leaning media the outlet claimed he had “never heard of” Bad Bunny.

“I don’t know his identity,” Trump stated. “I can’t comprehend why they’re doing it. It’s, like, crazy. And then, they attribute it to some promoter they hired to pick up talent. I think it’s completely unreasonable.”

The commissioner defended the decision this week, explaining it was determined because of the artist’s massive fanbase.

“He’s one of the top and most popular entertainers globally,” he affirmed. “That’s what we try to accomplish. It’s an important platform for us. It serves as a key element to the overall experience.”