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The NFL will not drop Bad Bunny as the headline performer for the prestigious mid-game entertainment, League chief Roger Goodell announced on Wednesday.

With this affirmation, Goodell stood by the decision to place the internationally acclaimed singer on the league’s biggest stage, a move that drew criticism from the former president and his political base.

Goodell addressed the controversy during his media briefing following the annual fall owners meeting. This marks the first time he has spoken out on the appointment, which has attracted worldwide attention, including a rise in streams of the artist's catalog alongside opposition.

“It’s carefully thought through,” Goodell said. “I’m not sure we’ve ever selected an artist where we avoided pushback or disapproval. It’s pretty hard to do when you have truly hundreds of millions of people tuning in.”

Bad Bunny, whose real name is Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, has been a vocal opponent of Trump. He lately opted to hold a month-long concert series in Puerto Rico, avoiding stops in the continental United States, citing apprehensions about the mass deportation of Hispanic individuals.

The 31-year-old, who performs in Spanish, is anticipated to continue this at the Super Bowl.

“We’re confident it will deliver a great show,” the NFL commissioner said. “He is aware of the opportunity that he’s on, and in my view it’s going to be thrilling and a united experience.”

The host team are staging the Super Bowl on 8 February at Levi’s Stadium in the Bay Area. It is unclear if Trump intends to attend, though he has turned physical attendance at major sporting events a significant part of his second term.

Trump during a discussion on right-leaning media Newsmax claimed he had “never heard of” the performer.

“I’m unfamiliar with who he is,” Trump said. “I don’t know why they’re doing it. It’s, like, crazy. And then, they blame it on an outside booker they hired to select talent. In my opinion it’s completely unreasonable.”

The commissioner supported the choice this week, explaining it was made because of the artist’s immense popularity.

“He’s one of the leading and most popular entertainers globally,” Goodell said. “That’s what we aim to achieve. It’s an important stage for the league. It’s an important element to the overall experience.”