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America's top football league will not remove Bad Bunny as the star attraction for the Super Bowl halftime show, Commissioner Roger Goodell stated on Wednesday.

With this affirmation, Goodell stood by the choice to place 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 debate during his media briefing following the annual fall owners meeting. This marks the first time he has publicly remarked on the appointment, which has garnered worldwide attention, including a rise in streams of Bad Bunny’s music alongside backlash.

“The decision was thoroughly considered,” Goodell remarked. “I’m not sure we have chosen an performer where we avoided some blowback or criticism. It’s pretty hard to do when you have truly countless viewers of people that are watching.”

Bad Bunny, whose real name is Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, has been a outspoken critic of Trump. He recently decided to do a month-long concert series in Puerto Rico, avoiding stops in the continental United States, citing apprehensions about the expulsion of Latinos.

The artist, who sings in Spanish, is anticipated to do so at the big game.

“We believe it’s going to be a great show,” Goodell said. “He is aware of the opportunity that he has, and I think it’s going to be exciting and a unifying experience.”

The San Francisco 49ers are staging the Super Bowl on February 8 at the Santa Clara venue in Santa Clara, California. There is uncertainty if the former president intends to be there, though he has turned appearing in person at high-profile games a key aspect of his second term.

The political figure in an interview on right-leaning media the outlet claimed he had “no knowledge of” the performer.

“I’m unfamiliar with his identity,” he stated. “I can’t comprehend the reasoning behind it. It seems absurd. Additionally, they attribute it to an outside booker they hired to select entertainment. I think it’s absolutely ridiculous.”

The commissioner defended the decision on Wednesday, clarifying it was determined because of the artist’s massive fanbase.

“He’s one of the top and best-loved entertainers globally,” he said. “That’s what we aim to achieve. It represents a crucial stage for the league. It’s an important element to the entertainment value.”