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America's top football league has no plans to remove the global music icon as the headline performer for the prestigious mid-game entertainment, Commissioner Roger Goodell announced on Wednesday.

With this affirmation, Goodell stood by the decision to feature the Puerto Rican artist on the league’s biggest stage, a move that sparked criticism from Donald Trump and some of his supporters.

Goodell addressed the debate 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 worldwide attention, including a rise in online plays of the artist's catalog alongside backlash.

“It’s carefully thought through,” the commissioner said. “I’m not sure we have chosen an performer where we avoided pushback or criticism. It’s challenging to do when you have literally hundreds of millions of fans that are watching.”

The reggaeton star, whose real name is Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, has been a vocal opponent of Trump. He recently opted to hold a 31-day residency in his homeland, avoiding stops in the continental United States, referencing concerns about the mass deportation of Hispanic individuals.

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

“We believe it will deliver a great show,” the NFL commissioner commented. “He understands the opportunity that he has, and in my view it will prove thrilling and a united moment.”

The host team are hosting the championship game on February 8 at the Santa Clara venue in Santa Clara, California. It is unclear if Trump intends to attend, although he has turned appearing in person at high-profile games a key aspect of his current presidency.

Trump during a discussion on conservative news network the outlet claimed he had “no knowledge of” the performer.

“I’m unfamiliar with who he is,” he said. “I can’t comprehend why they’re doing it. It’s, like, crazy. Additionally, they blame it on some promoter they hired to select talent. I think it’s absolutely ridiculous.”

The commissioner supported the decision this week, explaining it was made because of Bad Bunny’s massive fanbase.

“He’s one of the top and best-loved performers globally,” Goodell said. “This is exactly what we aim to achieve. It represents a crucial stage for the league. It’s an important element to the overall experience.”