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The NFL has no plans to remove Bad Bunny as the headline performer for the Super Bowl halftime show, Commissioner Roger Goodell announced on Wednesday.

In doing so, Goodell reaffirmed the choice to feature the Puerto Rican artist on the league’s biggest stage, a move that sparked criticism from Donald Trump and his political base.

Goodell commented on the controversy during his news conference following the annual fall owners meeting. This marks the first time he has publicly remarked on the selection, which has garnered worldwide attention, including a rise in streams of Bad Bunny’s music alongside backlash.

“The decision was thoroughly considered,” Goodell said. “I doubt we’ve ever selected an artist where we didn’t have some blowback or disapproval. It’s pretty hard to do when you have truly countless viewers of fans tuning in.”

The reggaeton star, whose real name is Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, has been a vocal opponent of Trump. He recently opted to do a month-long concert series in his homeland, skipping stops in the continental United States, citing concerns about the mass deportation of Latinos.

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

“We’re confident it will deliver a spectacular performance,” the NFL commissioner said. “He is aware of the opportunity that he has, and in my view it will prove exciting and a unifying moment.”

The host team are staging the championship game on February 8 at the Santa Clara venue in the Bay Area. There is uncertainty if the former president plans to be there, although he has turned appearing in person at major sporting events a significant part of his current presidency.

The political figure during a discussion on conservative news network the outlet said he had “never heard of” the performer.

“I don’t know his identity,” he stated. “I can’t comprehend why they’re doing it. It’s, like, crazy. And then, they blame it on an outside booker they hired to select talent. In my opinion it’s completely unreasonable.”

The commissioner defended the decision on Wednesday, explaining it was made because of Bad Bunny’s massive fanbase.

“He ranks among the top and best-loved performers in the world,” he affirmed. “This is exactly what we aim to achieve. It represents a crucial platform for us. It’s an important component to the entertainment value.”