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America's top football league has no plans to drop Bad Bunny as the star attraction for the Super Bowl halftime show, League chief Roger Goodell stated this week.

With this affirmation, Goodell stood by the choice to feature the Puerto Rican artist on the most-watched platform, a move that sparked criticism from the former president and some of his supporters.

Goodell commented on the controversy during his media briefing following the annual fall owners meeting. This marks the first time he has publicly remarked on the appointment, which has attracted worldwide attention, including a surge in online plays of the artist's catalog alongside backlash.

“It’s carefully thought through,” Goodell said. “I doubt we have chosen an artist where we didn’t have pushback or criticism. It’s pretty hard to do when you have truly hundreds of millions of people that are watching.”

Bad Bunny, whose real name is Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, has been a outspoken critic of Trump. He lately opted to hold a month-long concert series in Puerto Rico, avoiding stops in the continental United States, referencing apprehensions about the expulsion of Hispanic individuals.

The artist, who performs in Spanish, is anticipated to do so at the Super Bowl.

“We’re confident it’s going to be a great show,” Goodell commented. “He understands the opportunity that he’s on, and I think it’s going to be exciting and a united experience.”

The San Francisco 49ers are hosting the Super Bowl on 8 February at the Santa Clara venue in Santa Clara, California. It is unclear if the former president plans to be there, although he has turned physical attendance at major sporting events a key aspect of his current presidency.

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

“I don’t know his identity,” Trump said. “I can’t comprehend why they’re doing it. It seems absurd. And then, they attribute it to an outside booker they hired to pick up entertainment. In my opinion it’s completely unreasonable.”

The commissioner defended the decision on Wednesday, explaining it was made because of Bad Bunny’s massive fanbase.

“He’s one of the leading and most popular performers globally,” Goodell said. “That’s what we aim to accomplish. It’s an important stage for the league. It serves as a key element to the entertainment value.”