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America's top football league has no plans to remove the global music icon as the headline performer for the Super Bowl halftime show, Commissioner Roger Goodell stated on Wednesday.

With this affirmation, Goodell stood by the choice to place the internationally acclaimed singer on the league’s biggest stage, a move that sparked criticism from the former president and his political base.

Goodell commented on the controversy during his news conference following the league's autumn gathering. This marks the first time he has spoken out on the selection, which has attracted worldwide attention, including a surge in online plays of Bad Bunny’s music alongside opposition.

“The decision was thoroughly considered,” Goodell remarked. “I doubt we’ve ever selected an performer where we didn’t have pushback or criticism. It’s pretty hard to do when you have literally countless viewers of people tuning in.”

The reggaeton star, whose real name is Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, has been a outspoken critic of Trump. He recently opted to hold a 31-day residency in Puerto Rico, skipping stops in the mainland US, referencing concerns about the mass deportation of Latinos.

The 31-year-old, who performs primarily in his native language, is anticipated to continue this at the Super Bowl.

“We’re confident it’s going to be a spectacular performance,” Goodell commented. “He is aware of the opportunity that he has, and I think it’s going to be exciting and a unifying moment.”

The host team are staging the championship game on February 8 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California. There is uncertainty if Trump plans to attend, though he has turned physical attendance at high-profile games a key aspect of his current presidency.

The political figure in an interview on conservative news network Newsmax claimed he had “no knowledge of” Bad Bunny.

“I don’t know his identity,” Trump said. “I don’t know why they’re doing it. It seems absurd. Additionally, they blame it on an outside booker they hired to pick up entertainment. I think it’s absolutely ridiculous.”

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

“He’s one of the top and best-loved entertainers in the world,” Goodell said. “That’s what we aim to achieve. It’s an important stage for us. It’s an important component to the entertainment value.”