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America's top football league will not drop Bad Bunny as the star attraction for the prestigious mid-game entertainment, League chief Roger Goodell announced on Wednesday.

In doing so, Goodell reaffirmed the choice to feature the internationally acclaimed singer on the league’s biggest stage, a move that sparked criticism from Donald Trump and some of his supporters.

Goodell commented on the controversy during his media briefing following the league's autumn gathering. This marks the first time he has spoken out on the appointment, which has attracted global interest, including a rise in online plays of Bad Bunny’s music alongside backlash.

“The decision was thoroughly considered,” Goodell remarked. “I’m not sure we have chosen an artist where we avoided pushback or disapproval. It’s pretty hard to do when you have literally countless viewers of people tuning in.”

Bad Bunny, whose real name is Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, has been a vocal opponent of Trump. He recently opted to do a 31-day residency in his homeland, skipping stops in the mainland US, referencing concerns about the mass deportation of Hispanic individuals.

The artist, who sings in Spanish, is anticipated to do so at the Super Bowl.

“We’re confident it’s going to be a great show,” Goodell commented. “He is aware of the opportunity that he’s on, and I think it will prove exciting and a united moment.”

The host team are hosting the Super Bowl on 8 February at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California. There is uncertainty if the former president intends to attend, although he has made physical attendance at high-profile games a key aspect of his second term.

Trump during a discussion on conservative news network Newsmax claimed he had “never heard of” the performer.

“I don’t know his identity,” Trump stated. “I can’t comprehend the reasoning behind it. It’s, like, crazy. Additionally, they blame it on an outside booker they contracted to select talent. In my opinion it’s completely unreasonable.”

Goodell defended the choice on Wednesday, explaining it was determined because of the artist’s massive fanbase.

“He’s one of the top and best-loved entertainers globally,” he affirmed. “This is exactly what we aim to achieve. It represents a crucial platform for us. It’s an important component to the overall experience.”