NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has addressed the mounting backlash following the announcement of Bad Bunny as the Super Bowl halftime performer, saying, “I believe it’s going to be an exciting and unifying moment for everyone.”

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NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has addressed the mounting criticism surrounding the announcement of Bad Bunny as the performer for the 2026 Super Bowl halftime show. Despite complaints from conservative viewers, including former President Donald Trump, Goodell confirmed that the NFL will not reconsider its decision.

“It’s carefully thought through,” Goodell stated during the NFL’s fall meeting. “I’m not sure we’ve ever selected an artist without some blowback or criticism. It’s pretty hard to avoid when you have literally hundreds of millions of people watching.”

Goodell expressed confidence in the performance, stating, “We’re confident it’s going to be a great show” featuring the Grammy-winning Puerto Rican artist. He emphasized that Bad Bunny understands the significance of the platform he’s on, predicting an exciting and unifying moment during the show.

Bad Bunny, one of the biggest musical stars globally with over 107 billion streams on Spotify and 49.5 million Instagram followers, was announced as the halftime performer on September 28. This show will be his only performance in the continental U.S. to promote his latest album, Debí Tirar Más Fotos. He has chosen to focus on a residency in Puerto Rico and a world tour in Latin America, Australia, and Europe instead of performing in the U.S.

Former President Trump publicly criticized the choice of Bad Bunny for the Super Bowl halftime show, claiming, “I’ve never heard of him.” He questioned the decision, saying, “I don’t know why they’re doing it. It’s crazy.” Trump attributed the decision to a promoter hired for entertainment, calling it “absolutely ridiculous.”

In response to the backlash, a petition has circulated to replace Bad Bunny with country music legend George Strait. Meanwhile, Bad Bunny himself humorously addressed the criticism while hosting Saturday Night Live, saying, “I’m very happy, and I think everyone is happy about it. Even Fox News.” The show then aired edited clips of various network discussions that humorously proclaimed, “Bad Bunny is my favorite musician and he should be the next president.”

During his SNL appearance, Bad Bunny also delivered a speech, partly in Spanish, directed at “Latinos and Latinas across the world, and here in the United States.” He concluded with a lighthearted remark, “And if you didn’t understand what I just said, you have four months to learn.”

The controversy has drawn attention from other right-wing commentators, including Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene and House Speaker Mike Johnson, who have also expressed their outrage over the selection of Bad Bunny for the halftime show.

In the wake of the criticism, the Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers will monitor the Super Bowl in February. This came after former Trump campaign manager Corey Lewandowski suggested during an appearance on The Benny Show that there would be no safe haven for undocumented individuals at the Super Bowl.

As the Super Bowl approaches, the debate continues, with the NFL standing firm in its decision to feature Bad Bunny, confident that his performance will resonate with audiences and bring a unique flavor to the halftime show.