“I’m not sure we’ve ever selected an artist where we didn’t have some blowback or criticism,” Goodell said.

 

 

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has responded to the growing backlash over announcing Bad Bunny as the 2026 Super Bowl halftime show performer, confirming that they aren’t reconsidering their decision despite complaints from conservative viewers including President Donald Trump.

“It’s carefully thought through,” Goodell said at the NFL’s fall meeting. “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 commissioner added that they’re “confident it’s going to be a great show” from the Grammy-winning Puerto Rican artist.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has addressed the backlash surrounding Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl halftime performance, calling it a “uniting moment” that celebrated culture and diversity. Some fans criticized the show for being “too political” or “not American enough,” but Goodell pushed back, saying the performance represented the modern spirit of the NFL — one that brings together fans from all backgrounds.

“We’re proud of what Bad Bunny brought to that stage,” Goodell said during a recent interview. “It was energetic, authentic, and it connected with people around the world. That’s what the Super Bowl is all about.”

Despite the mixed reactions online, the performance broke viewership records on streaming platforms and sparked global conversations about representation and culture in one of the world’s most-watched events.