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The NFL will not remove Bad Bunny as the headline performer for the prestigious mid-game entertainment, League chief Roger Goodell announced on Wednesday.

In doing so, Goodell stood by the decision to place the Puerto Rican artist on the league’s biggest stage, a move that drew criticism from the former president and some of his supporters.

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

“It’s carefully thought through,” the commissioner remarked. “I’m not sure we’ve ever selected an performer where we avoided some blowback or disapproval. It’s challenging to do when you have truly countless viewers of fans that are watching.”

Bad Bunny, born Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, has been a outspoken critic of the former leader. He recently opted to hold a 31-day residency in Puerto Rico, skipping stops in the mainland US, citing concerns about the mass deportation of Latinos.

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

“We’re confident it will deliver a great show,” the NFL commissioner said. “He understands the platform that he’s on, and in my view it’s going to be exciting and a unifying experience.”

The host team are hosting the championship game on February 8 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California. There is uncertainty if Trump plans to be there, although he has made appearing in person at high-profile games a key aspect of his current presidency.

Trump during a discussion on conservative news network the outlet claimed he had “no knowledge of” the performer.

“I don’t know his identity,” he stated. “I can’t comprehend the reasoning behind it. It’s, like, crazy. Additionally, they attribute it to some promoter they contracted to pick up talent. I think it’s completely unreasonable.”

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

“He’s one of the top and most popular entertainers globally,” Goodell affirmed. “This is exactly what we aim to achieve. It’s an important stage for us. It’s an important component to the entertainment value.”