NFL Stands Firm on Bad Bunny Super Bowl Halftime Performance
LAS VEGAS – NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell affirmed Wednesday that the league will not reverse its decision to feature Bad Bunny as the headlining performer for the Super Bowl LX halftime show,despite facing criticism.The declaration came following the conclusion of the league’s quarterly ownership meetings.
Goodell’s statement addresses concerns raised following the selection of the Puerto Rican artist, a move that has drawn political reaction. He acknowledged that controversy is common when choosing a Super Bowl performer, given the massive audience-hundreds of millions of viewers-and the difficulty of universally pleasing such a large group.
“It’s carefully thought through,” Goodell said, according to the Associated Press. “I’m not sure we’ve ever selected an artist where we didn’t have some blowback or criticism.” He further emphasized Bad Bunny’s global popularity, stating, “he’s 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 critically important element to the entertainment value.”
The NFL anticipates potential competition from alternative programming. Turning Point USA has announced plans to produce a separate show, which, if broadcast on a major television network, coudl draw viewers away from the Super Bowl halftime performance. The league also faces the need for governmental approval of its pending media deal with Disney/ESPN. Despite these factors,Goodell’s comments signal the NFL’s commitment to its original choice for Super Bowl LX.
