“He’s one of the most popular entertainers in the world,” Goodell said about the selection of Bad Bunny for this year’s Super Bowl halftime show. Dia Dipasupil / Getty Images
NEW YORK — The NFL has no regrets about picking three-time Grammy winner Bad Bunny as the performer for its Super Bowl halftime show.
Commissioner Roger Goodell also said the league has no intention of changing the performer based on negative reaction to the announcement. Goodell said he never expects the entertainer the league selects to receive universal approval.
“He’s one of the most popular entertainers in the world,” Goodell said Wednesday at the league’s fall meeting. “That’s what we try to achieve. It’s an important element to the entertainment value. It’s carefully thought through. I would say I’m not sure we’ve ever selected an artist where we didn’t have some blowback or criticism. We have hundreds of millions of people watching, but I have full confidence it’ll be a good show. He understands the platform he’s on and I think it’s going to be an exciting and united moment.”
Bad Bunny, who is Puerto Rican and performs in Spanish, has said he didn’t include the continental United States in his latest tour out of fear that ICE would raid his concert venues. He has been critical of the Trump administration’s immigration policies.
A few days after it was revealed Bad Bunny, whose given name is Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, would be the halftime show performer, a Trump administration official announced that ICE agents will be at the Super Bowl. The organization founded by late right-wing activist Charlie Kirk also announced plans to host Super Bowl halftime counterprogramming.
When Goodell was asked if the NFL had any plans to switch who was performing, he said no.
“The show will evolve from here. Not saying there won’t be additional talent, but that’s always the way it works.”
The Super Bowl will take place Feb. 8 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., home of the San Francisco 49ers.
Oct 22, 2025
Connections: Sports Edition
Spot the pattern. Connect the terms
Find the hidden link between sports terms
Play today’s puzzle