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America's top football league will not remove Bad Bunny as the headline performer for the prestigious mid-game entertainment, Commissioner Roger Goodell stated this week.

In doing so, Goodell reaffirmed the decision to place the Puerto Rican artist on the most-watched platform, a move that sparked criticism from the former president and some of his supporters.

Goodell addressed the controversy during his media briefing following the annual fall owners meeting. This marks the initial instance he has publicly remarked on the selection, which has attracted global interest, including a surge in streams of the artist's catalog alongside opposition.

“The decision was thoroughly considered,” the commissioner said. “I doubt we’ve ever selected an artist where we didn’t have pushback or disapproval. It’s challenging to do when you have truly hundreds of millions of fans that are watching.”

The reggaeton star, born Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, has been a vocal opponent of Trump. He lately decided to do a 31-day residency in Puerto Rico, skipping performances in the mainland US, referencing apprehensions about the mass deportation of Latinos.

The 31-year-old, who performs in Spanish, is anticipated to do so at the big game.

“We’re confident it will deliver a great show,” the NFL commissioner said. “He is aware of the platform that he has, and in my view it will prove exciting and a unifying experience.”

The San Francisco 49ers are hosting the Super Bowl on February 8 at the Santa Clara venue in Santa Clara, California. There is uncertainty if Trump plans to attend, although he has made appearing in person at high-profile games a key aspect of his second term.

Trump in an interview on conservative news network the outlet claimed he had “no knowledge of” Bad Bunny.

“I don’t know who he is,” Trump stated. “I don’t know the reasoning behind it. It’s, like, crazy. And then, they attribute it to an outside booker they hired to pick up entertainment. I think it’s completely unreasonable.”

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

“He ranks among the top and best-loved performers globally,” he affirmed. “This is exactly what we aim to accomplish. It represents a crucial platform for the league. It’s an important component to the entertainment value.”