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The NFL has no plans to drop the global music icon as the star attraction for the Super Bowl halftime show, 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 the former president and his political base.

Goodell commented on the controversy during his news conference following the annual fall owners meeting. This marks the initial instance he has publicly remarked on the appointment, which has attracted global interest, including a rise in streams of Bad Bunny’s music alongside backlash.

“The decision was thoroughly considered,” Goodell said. “I’m not sure we’ve ever selected an performer where we avoided some blowback or disapproval. It’s pretty hard to do when you have literally hundreds of millions of fans tuning in.”

Bad Bunny, whose real name is Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, has been a outspoken critic of the former leader. He lately opted to hold a month-long concert series in his homeland, avoiding stops in the continental United States, referencing concerns about the mass deportation of Hispanic individuals.

The 31-year-old, who sings in Spanish, is anticipated to continue this at the big game.

“We believe it’s going to be a great show,” Goodell commented. “He understands the opportunity that he has, and I think it will prove thrilling and a unifying experience.”

The San Francisco 49ers are hosting the championship game on February 8 at Levi’s Stadium in the Bay Area. It is unclear if the former president plans to attend, though he has turned appearing in person at major sporting events a significant part of his second term.

The political figure during a discussion on conservative news network Newsmax claimed he had “never heard of” Bad Bunny.

“I don’t know his identity,” Trump stated. “I can’t comprehend the reasoning behind it. It’s, like, crazy. And then, they blame it on some promoter they contracted to select entertainment. In my opinion it’s absolutely ridiculous.”

Goodell supported the choice this week, clarifying it was made because of Bad Bunny’s immense popularity.

“He ranks among the leading and most popular entertainers in the world,” Goodell said. “That’s what we aim to achieve. It represents a crucial stage for us. It serves as a key component to the entertainment value.”