Bad Bunny, center, watches play between the New York Yankees and the Toronto Blue Jays during the second inning of Game 3 of baseball’s American League Division Series, Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

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Gabe Whisnant

By Gabe Whisnant

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NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said Wednesday the league is standing by its decision to have Bad Bunny headline the Super Bowl halftime show, despite criticism from President Donald Trump and some of his supporters.

“The NFL is not considering dropping Bad Bunny,” Goodell said during his news conference following the league’s annual fall owners meeting. “It’s carefully thought through. I’m not sure we’ve ever selected an artist where we didn’t have some blowback or criticism. It’s pretty hard to do when you have literally hundreds of millions of people that are watching.”

The Grammy-winning Puerto Rican artist was announced as the halftime performer in late September, sparking both enthusiasm and backlash. The news boosted streams of his music and drew attention to his outspoken political views. Bad Bunny, 31, born Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, has frequently criticized Trump and U.S. immigration policies. He performed a 31-day residency in Puerto Rico earlier this year, skipping tour stops in the mainland United States over concerns about the treatment of Latinos.

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Bad Bunny, center, watches play between the New York Yankees and the Toronto Blue Jays during the second inning of Game 3 of baseball's American League Division Series, Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

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Goodell said the choice reflects the league’s commitment to connecting with a global audience. “He’s one of the leading and most popular entertainers in the world,” he said. “That’s what we try to achieve. It’s an important stage for us and an important element to the entertainment value.”

The commissioner added that additional performers may join the halftime lineup but expressed confidence in Bad Bunny’s ability to deliver a show that “will be exciting and a united moment.”

Bad Bunny is expected to perform primarily in Spanish, continuing the NFL’s trend of featuring diverse and internationally recognized artists on its biggest stage.

It remains unclear whether Trump, who has made appearances at several major sporting events during his second term in office, plans to attend the Feb. 8 Super Bowl.

In an interview with conservative network Newsmax, Trump dismissed the choice, saying he had “never heard of” the performer. “I don’t know who he is,” Trump said. “I don’t know why they’re doing it. It’s, like, crazy. I think it’s absolutely ridiculous.”

Turning Point USA, the organization co-founded by assassinated conservative activist Charlie Kirk, announced this month that it will host its own halftime show as counterprograming to the Super Bowl LX’s show.

Goodell brushed aside the criticism, emphasizing that the halftime show’s purpose is to entertain and reach the widest audience possible. “We’re confident it’s going to be a great show,” he said.

When Is the Super Bowl?

Super Bowl LIX will take place Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026, at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, home of the San Francisco 49ers. The game will air live on Fox and stream on the Fox Sports app, with kickoff expected around 6:30 p.m. Eastern time. It will be the second Super Bowl held at Levi’s Stadium, which last hosted Super Bowl 50 in 2016.

Super Bowl Halftime: Performers by Year

Recent Super Bowl halftime headliners include:

What Are the Top 10 Bad Bunny Songs?

Bad Bunny’s most popular and influential tracks, based on streaming numbers, chart performance and cultural impact, include:

This article includes reporting by the Associated Press.

Updates: 10/22/25, 4:01 p.m. ET: This article was updated with new information and remarks.

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