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The NFL has no plans to drop the global music icon as the star attraction for the prestigious mid-game entertainment, Commissioner Roger Goodell announced this week.

With this affirmation, Goodell stood by the decision to place the Puerto Rican artist on the most-watched platform, a move that drew negative reactions from Donald Trump and his political base.

Goodell addressed the controversy during his news conference following the league's autumn gathering. This marks the first time he has publicly remarked on the selection, which has attracted worldwide attention, including a rise in online plays of Bad Bunny’s music alongside backlash.

“It’s carefully thought through,” Goodell said. “I doubt we’ve ever selected an artist where we avoided pushback or disapproval. It’s challenging to do when you have truly countless viewers of people tuning in.”

Bad Bunny, whose real name is Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, has been a vocal opponent of Trump. He recently opted to do a 31-day residency in his homeland, skipping performances in the mainland US, citing concerns about the mass deportation of Hispanic individuals.

The artist, who performs in Spanish, is anticipated to do so at the big game.

“We believe it’s going to be a spectacular performance,” the NFL commissioner said. “He is aware of the opportunity that he’s on, and in my view it’s going to be thrilling and a united experience.”

The host team are hosting the championship game on February 8 at the Santa Clara venue in Santa Clara, California. It is unclear if the former president plans to be there, although he has made appearing in person at high-profile games a significant part of his second term.

The political figure in an interview on right-leaning media Newsmax said he had “no knowledge of” Bad Bunny.

“I’m unfamiliar with his identity,” Trump said. “I don’t know the reasoning behind it. It seems absurd. Additionally, they blame it on some promoter they contracted to pick up talent. I think it’s absolutely ridiculous.”

Goodell defended the decision this week, clarifying it was determined because of the artist’s massive fanbase.

“He ranks among the leading and most popular performers globally,” he affirmed. “That’s what we aim to accomplish. It represents a crucial platform for the league. It serves as a key component to the entertainment value.”