Roger Goodell Defends Bad Bunny Super Bowl Halftime Pick

Photo Credit: Bad Bunny (Instagram)

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell defends the league’s decision to have Bad Bunny headline the Super Bowl halftime show following far-right backlash.

Roger Goodell, the NFL’s commissioner since 2006, has doubled down on the league and Roc Nation’s decision to have Puerto Rico superstar Bad Bunny headline the Super Bowl halftime show following backlash from the Trump administration and other far-right commentators.

“[Bad Bunny is] one of the leading and most popular entertainers in the world. That’s what we try to achieve. It’s an important stage for us. It’s an important element to the entertainment value, and it’s carefully thought through,” Goodell told reporters on Wednesday. “I’m not sure we’ve ever selected an artist where we didn’t have some blowback and criticism. It’s pretty hard to do.”

Goodell also indicated that other entertainers may join Bad Bunny during the halftime show in February, saying on Wednesday that “the show will evolve from here.” He noted that the Super Bowl halftime shows often feature special and surprise guests, especially in recent years. Last year, Kendrick Lamar featured SZA, Serena Williams, and Samuel L. Jackson. The 2024 halftime show, headlined by Usher, featured Ludacris, Alicia Keys, and Lil Jon.

“I am not saying that there won’t be additional talent that might be involved, but that’s the way it works,” said Goodell when asked if the league would consider making any changes to the show. “We’re confident it’s going to be a good show; he understands the platform that he is on, and I think it’s going to be exciting and [a] uniting moment.”

Bad Bunny was selected to headline the 2026 Super Bowl halftime show last month, in a decision that was met with blowback from people asserting that the superstar isn’t “American” enough. That’s despite the fact that Puerto Rico has been a United States territory longer than some states have been part of the union, highlighting a lack of knowledge about U.S. history.

But the artist himself has taken it in stride, even making light of the backlash when hosting Saturday Night Live earlier this month. “What I’m feeling goes beyond myself. It’s for those who came before me and ran countless yards so I could come in and score a touchdown. This is for my people, my culture, and our history,” Bad Bunny said in a statement at the time.