NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell is confident Bad Bunny will keep politics off the stage during his Super Bowl halftime performance this Sunday.
The statement comes just one day after the Grammy-winning artist made headlines with his bold speech criticizing ICE.
Goodell addressed reporters Monday night, six days before the big game, making it clear he expects unity—not division—from the global superstar.
But with conservative backlash already mounting and even an alternative halftime show planned, will Bad Bunny stick to the script?
Goodell Expects Unity, Not Politics
Speaking to reporters, Goodell emphasized that Bad Bunny understands what the Super Bowl platform represents. He framed the halftime show as a moment for bringing people together through creativity and talent.
Bad Bunny, and I think that was demonstrated last night, is one of the great artists in the world. 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.
Goodell pointed to past performers as examples, suggesting Bad Bunny will follow suit. His confidence seems unshaken despite the controversy swirling around the performance.
Grammy Speech Sparks Controversy
Bad Bunny didn’t hold back at the Grammys Sunday night. Opening his album of the year acceptance speech, he blasted U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement with sharp words that immediately went viral.
ICE out. We are not savages, we’re not animals, we’re not aliens. We are humans and we are Americans.
He didn’t stop there. The Puerto Rican artist pivoted to a message about combating hatred with love, acknowledging how difficult that can be in today’s climate.
I know it’s tough not to hate these days. The hate gets more powerful with more hate. The only thing that is more powerful than hate is love. So please, we need to be different. If we fight, we have to do it with love.
Those words set social media ablaze and intensified an already heated debate about his Super Bowl selection.
Conservative Backlash and Alternative Show
Bad Bunny’s halftime performance has been polarizing since the NFL announced him as the headliner. Conservative groups and commentators have voiced strong opposition to the choice.
Turning Point USA took things further by organizing a counter-event. The conservative organization announced its own halftime show with Kid Rock as the main attraction, positioning it as an alternative to the NFL’s official programming.
The move underscores just how divisive this performance has become—even before Bad Bunny takes the stage at Levi’s Stadium.
Mixed Reviews From NFL Players
Even within NFL locker rooms, opinions are split. An anonymous player survey conducted by The Athletic revealed a divided player base on the halftime show selection.
- 58.6 percent of surveyed players liked the Bad Bunny pick
- 41.1 percent did not support the choice
Those numbers show more approval than disapproval, but the near 60-40 split indicates significant disagreement among players themselves.
It’s unusual for a halftime performer to generate this level of controversy before even stepping on stage. Past selections have occasionally drawn criticism, but rarely has there been an organized counter-event or such a divided player response.
Walking a Tightrope
Bad Bunny now faces a unique challenge. He must deliver a performance that satisfies NFL expectations while staying true to his artistic identity and values.
His Grammy speech demonstrated he’s willing to use major platforms to speak on social issues. Whether he’ll do the same during the world’s biggest sporting event remains the question everyone’s asking.
Goodell’s public statement seems designed to set clear expectations—both for Bad Bunny and for the audience. By emphasizing unity and referencing past performers, he’s essentially drawing a line about what’s appropriate for the Super Bowl stage.
Whether Bad Bunny will honor that unspoken agreement or use the massive platform to amplify his message will be revealed Sunday. With over 100 million viewers expected, the stakes couldn’t be higher.
One thing’s certain: all eyes will be watching when he takes the stage at Levi’s Stadium.