NFL’s Goodell Promises Bad Bunny ‘Understands’ His Role For Super Bowl

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell promised reporters that Super Bowl halftime performer Bad Bunny would refrain from spouting divisive rhetoric during the big game on Sunday.

Goodell responded to questions about potential political statements from the singer, saying, “I think Bad Bunny, and I think that was demonstrated last night [at the Grammys], is one of the great artists in the world, and that’s one of the reasons we chose him.”

“But the other reason is he understood the platform he was on and that this platform is used to unite people and to be able to bring people together with their creativity, with their talents, and to be able to use this moment to do that,” he continued, per Deadline. “I think artists in the past have done that. I think Bad Bunny understands that, and I think he’ll have a great performance.” The NFL commissioner’s statements come as rumors circulate that the Puerto Rican singer, whose real name is Benito Ocasio, is planning to wear a dress to the event. Ocasio has been outspoken in his political views so far and didn’t mince words during his Grammys acceptance speech.

“Before I say thanks to God, I’m going to say: ICE out,” the singer said from the stage during the awards ceremony Sunday night. “We are not savage. We are not animals. We are not aliens. We are humans, and we are Americans,” he added.

Ocasio previously referred to ICE agents as “motherf*ckers” and “sons of b*tches” in a video he posted to Instagram. The three-time Grammy Award-winner said during an interview that he didn’t book any tour stops in the United States because he was worried ICE agents would target concert attendees.

“There was the issue of — like, f***ing ICE could be outside. And it’s something that we were talking about and very concerned about,” he said.

Goodell previously defended choosing Bad Bunny as the halftime performer at Super Bowl LX after significant backlash following the announcement last fall.

“It’s carefully thought through,” Goodell said of the performance. “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.”

Turning Point USA announced it would host an alternative event to rival the Super Bowl halftime show, as many Americans questioned the selection of Bad Bunny as the headliner.

The lineup for “The All-American Halftime Show” was announced Monday. Kid Rock, Brantley Gilbert, Lee Brice, and Gabby Barrett will take the stage in a show TPUSA says will celebrate faith, family, and freedom, as The Daily Wire previously reported.

“We’re approaching this show like David and Goliath,” Kid Rock said in a statement, per Fox News. “Competing with the pro football machine and a global pop superstar is almost impossible, or is it? He said he’s having a dance party, wearing a dress, and singing in Spanish? Cool. We plan to play great songs for folks who love America.”