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The NFL will not drop the global music icon as the star attraction for the prestigious mid-game entertainment, Commissioner Roger Goodell stated this week.

With this affirmation, Goodell stood by the decision to place the Puerto Rican artist on the league’s biggest stage, a move that sparked negative reactions from Donald Trump and his political base.

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

“It’s carefully thought through,” the commissioner 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 hundreds of millions of people tuning in.”

The reggaeton star, born Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, has been a vocal opponent of the former leader. He recently decided to do a 31-day residency in his homeland, skipping stops in the mainland US, citing concerns about the mass deportation of Hispanic individuals.

The 31-year-old, who performs primarily in his native language, is anticipated to do so at the big game.

“We believe it’s going to be a great show,” the NFL commissioner commented. “He is aware of the opportunity that he’s on, and in my view it will prove thrilling and a unifying experience.”

The San Francisco 49ers are hosting the Super Bowl on February 8 at the Santa Clara venue in the Bay Area. It is unclear if the former president plans to attend, though he has turned physical attendance at major sporting events a significant part of his current presidency.

The political figure in an interview on right-leaning media the outlet said he had “never heard of” Bad Bunny.

“I’m unfamiliar with his identity,” Trump stated. “I don’t know the reasoning behind it. It seems absurd. Additionally, they attribute it to some promoter they contracted to select talent. In my opinion it’s absolutely ridiculous.”

Goodell defended the decision on Wednesday, clarifying it was determined because of Bad Bunny’s immense popularity.

“He’s one of the leading and best-loved performers globally,” Goodell said. “That’s what we try to achieve. It’s an important platform for us. It serves as a key element to the overall experience.”