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The NFL will not remove Bad Bunny as the star attraction for the Super Bowl halftime show, League chief Roger Goodell stated on Wednesday.

In doing so, Goodell reaffirmed the choice to feature the internationally acclaimed singer on the most-watched platform, a move that sparked criticism from Donald Trump and his political base.

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

“It’s carefully thought through,” Goodell said. “I’m not sure we’ve ever selected an artist where we didn’t have pushback or criticism. It’s pretty hard to do when you have truly countless viewers of fans that are watching.”

The reggaeton star, whose real name is Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, has been a vocal opponent of the former leader. He recently decided to hold a month-long concert series in Puerto Rico, skipping stops in the continental United States, citing concerns about the mass deportation of Latinos.

The 31-year-old, who sings primarily in his native language, is expected to continue this at the big game.

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

The San Francisco 49ers are hosting the Super Bowl on 8 February at the Santa Clara venue in the Bay Area. There is uncertainty if the former president plans to be there, although he has made physical attendance at high-profile games a significant part of his current presidency.

Trump in an interview on conservative news network the outlet said he had “no knowledge of” the performer.

“I don’t know his identity,” Trump said. “I don’t know the reasoning behind it. It’s, like, crazy. Additionally, they attribute it to some promoter they hired to pick up talent. In my opinion it’s completely unreasonable.”

The commissioner supported the decision on Wednesday, clarifying it was determined because of the artist’s immense popularity.

“He ranks among the top and best-loved performers in the world,” Goodell said. “That’s what we aim to accomplish. It’s an important stage for the league. It serves as a key component to the overall experience.”