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In the lead-up to a highly anticipated Super Bowl performance, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell chose a measured response to Bad Bunny’s recent critique of ICE at the Grammy Awards. This moment of political commentary came just a week before the Puerto Rican artist is set to grace the halftime stage during the clash between the Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots.
During his Grammy acceptance speech, Bad Bunny seized the opportunity to voice his concerns about ICE, an agency that will have a visible presence during his upcoming performance. His remarks have sparked discussions ahead of the Super Bowl, where heightened security is expected under the watch of Donald Trump’s administration.
At his traditional Super Bowl week press briefing, Goodell lauded Bad Bunny as “one of the greatest artists in the world,” acknowledging the global star’s understanding of the significant platform he possesses. Goodell emphasized the role such platforms play in fostering unity and creativity.
“This platform is used to unite people and to be able to bring people together with their creativity, with their talent,” Goodell stated. He went on to express confidence that the artist would deliver a memorable show, similar to past performers who have leveraged their influence for broader messages.
“I think Bad Bunny understands that and I think he’ll have a great performance,” Goodell concluded, reflecting a belief in the artist’s ability to engage and inspire audiences on one of the world’s biggest stages.
Bad Bunny won three awards on Sunday night, including the prestigious Album of the Year, and said: ‘Before I say thanks to god, I’m going to say, ICE Out.’
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell remained coy on Bad Bunny’s ICE criticism at the Grammys
Bad Bunny won three awards on Sunday night, including the prestigious Album of the Year
He received a massive ovation from the crowd before he continued his speech. ‘We are not savage. We are not animals. We are not aliens. We are humans, and we are Americans.
‘The hate gets more powerful with more hate. The only thing that is more powerful than hate is love. So, please, we need to be different. If we fight, we have to do it with love.
‘We don’t hate them, we love our people, we love our family, and that’s the way to do it, with love.’Â
The announcement that Bad Bunny, whose real name is Benito Antonio MartÃnez Ocasio, would perform was first made in late September, instantly placing the singer and rapper at the center of a political firestorm.Â
Within days, the choice drew sharp rebukes from high-ranking government officials who questioned the artist’s past criticisms of U.S. immigration policies. He previously cited ICE agents as a reason he did not include any mainland US dates for his tour.
Donald Trump was among those to criticize the decision, and he later revealed that he would not be attending the game due to the Puerto Rican’s selection.
The Trump administration is expected to send ICE agents to the Bay Area ahead of the Seahawks’ clash with the Patriots.
Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem previously vowed ‘we’ll be all over that place’ while a DHS official this week warned: ‘Those who are here legally and are not breaking other laws have nothing to fear.’
Bad Bunny said in his victory speech: ‘Before I say thanks to god, I’m going to say, ICE Out.’
It came a week before Trump’s agents will be patrolling when he performs at the Super Bowl
The Super Bowl heads to Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara amid heightened tensions across America following the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti in Minneapolis, which came two weeks after 37-year-old Renee Good was fatally shot in her car by an ICE officer.
Their deaths have sparked widespread protests, with some in the Trump administration accusing local officials of not doing enough to support federal law enforcement and even heightening tensions.Â
Reports on Thursday claimed there are no plans for ICE to carry out operations at Levi’s Stadium or at NFL-sponsored events in the build up to Super Bowl Sunday.
But DHS told TMZ that their plans to be on the ground around the Super Bowl had not changed despite unrest in Minneapolis.
Last year, meanwhile, Trump ally Corey Lewandowski warned:Â ‘There is nowhere that you can provide safe haven to people who are in this country illegally, not the Super Bowl, and nowhere else.’
He continued: ‘We will find you, we will apprehend you, we will put you in a detention facility and we will deport you.’Â
Noem even urged people to avoid the Super Bowl ‘unless they are law-abiding Americans who love this country,’ adding: ‘We’ll be all over that place… we’re gonna enforce the law.’Â