The National Football League Remains Resolute on Puerto Rican Superstar Super Bowl Performance Despite Trump Criticism
The NFL has no plans to drop the global music icon as the headline performer for the prestigious mid-game entertainment, League chief Roger Goodell stated on Wednesday.
With this affirmation, Goodell stood by the choice to place the internationally acclaimed singer on the most-watched platform, a move that sparked criticism from Donald Trump and his political base.
Goodell commented on the controversy during his news conference following the league's autumn gathering. This marks the initial instance he has spoken out on the appointment, which has attracted global interest, including a rise in streams of the artist's catalog alongside backlash.
“It’s carefully thought through,” Goodell remarked. “I doubt we have chosen an performer where we didn’t have some blowback or disapproval. It’s pretty hard to do when you have truly hundreds of millions of fans that are watching.”
The reggaeton star, whose real name is Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, has been a outspoken critic of Trump. He lately opted to hold a 31-day residency in Puerto Rico, avoiding stops in the continental United States, citing concerns about the expulsion of Latinos.
The artist, who performs in Spanish, is anticipated to do so at the Super Bowl.
“We believe it will deliver a spectacular performance,” the NFL commissioner commented. “He understands the platform that he’s on, and I think it’s going to be exciting and a united moment.”
The San Francisco 49ers are hosting the Super Bowl on February 8 at Levi’s Stadium in the Bay Area. It is unclear if Trump intends to be there, though he has made physical attendance at high-profile games a significant part of his current presidency.
Trump in an interview on conservative news network the outlet said he had “never heard of” the performer.
“I’m unfamiliar with who he is,” he said. “I can’t comprehend why they’re doing it. It seems absurd. And then, they attribute it to an outside booker they contracted to select talent. I think it’s completely unreasonable.”
Goodell supported the decision this week, clarifying it was determined because of the artist’s immense popularity.
“He’s one of the leading and best-loved performers globally,” he said. “This is exactly what we try to accomplish. It’s an important stage for the league. It serves as a key component to the entertainment value.”