NFL Confirms Bad Bunny's Super Bowl Halftime Show Plans Remain Unchanged

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NEW YORK (AP) — NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell confirmed on Wednesday that Bad Bunny will remain the headliner for the Super Bowl halftime show, despite criticism from former President Donald Trump and some of his followers. Goodell emphasized the league’s commitment to featuring the Grammy-winning Puerto Rican artist on this high-profile platform.

During a press conference after the annual fall owners meeting, Goodell addressed the controversy surrounding the decision to feature Bad Bunny. This was his first public comment on the matter since its announcement in late September, which sparked global interest and significantly boosted streams of Bad Bunny’s music, while also drawing some negative reactions.

“Our choice was deliberate,” Goodell stated. “I can’t recall a time when choosing an artist didn’t result in some form of backlash. It’s challenging when the event captivates hundreds of millions of viewers worldwide.”

The 31-year-old star, whose real name is Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, has openly expressed his disapproval of Trump and his policies. Bad Bunny recently completed a 31-day residency in Puerto Rico, choosing to avoid touring in the mainland United States due to concerns over Latino deportations.

He performs in Spanish and is expected to do so at the Super Bowl.

“We’re confident it’s going to be a great show,” Goodell said. “He understands the platform that he’s on, and I think it’s going to be exciting and a united moment.”

The San Francisco 49ers are hosting the Super Bowl on Feb. 8 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California. It is unclear if Trump plans to be there, though he has made appearing in person at major sporting events a significant part of his second term in the White House.

Trump, in an interview on conservative news network Newsmax, said he had “never heard of” Bad Bunny.

“I don’t know who he is,” Trump said. “I don’t know why they’re doing it. It’s, like, crazy. And then they blame it on some promoter they hired to pick up entertainment. I think it’s absolutely ridiculous.”

Goodell defended the decision on Wednesday, explaining it was made because of Bad Bunny’s immense popularity.

“He’s one of the leading and most popular entertainers in the world,” Goodell said. “That’s what we try to achieve. It’s an important stage for us. It’s an important element to the entertainment value.”