"Polite shade in corporate language": Netizens react as NFL commissioner Roger Goodell addresses Bad Bunny's Super Bowl drama

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has finally addressed the controversy surrounding Bad Bunny's selection as the 2026 Super Bowl Halftime Show headliner. His response is making waves online.

Speaking at a news conference following the NFL's fall meeting, Roger Goodell defended the league's decision as carefully considered. His statement came weeks after the announcement that Bad Bunny would headline Super Bowl LX, which is set to take place on February 8, 2026, at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California.

Goodell stated:

"It is carefully thought through. 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. We are confident it's going to be a great show. He understands the platform that he's on, and I think it's going to be exciting and a united moment."

Speaking more about Bad Bunny, the NFL Commissioner added:

"He is 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 important element to the entertainment value."

Netizens reacted to his statement, saying:

"Goodell's response to the MAGA freak‑out was pure CEO energy ….polite shade in corporate language."

Masala Bulletin

@MasalaBulletin

Goodell’s response to the MAGA freak‑out was pure CEO energy ….polite shade in corporate language.

Internet reactions to NFL commissioner Roger Goodell addressing Bad Bunny's Super Bowl drama

Pop Base took to its official X (formerly Twitter) page to post that,

"NFL commissioner responds to MAGA outrage over Bad Bunny headlining the Super Bowl"

Netizens were notably quick to weigh in on the comment section of the X post as they penned their thoughts about Roger Goodell's statement regarding Bad Bunny's Super Bowl controversy. Below are some of their reactions:

"Oh, brilliant! Nothing screams "united moment" like picking Bad Bunny to soothe the MAGA crowd, surely they’ll all be chanting "Dakiti" in perfect harmony! Time to stock up on popcorn for this cultural masterpiece!", declared an X user.

"It’s funny how every Super Bowl act becomes a “culture war” now. Bad Bunny performing for hundreds of millions isn’t a crisis.. it’s a mirror. America still can’t handle global popularity when it does not speak English.", opined another.

"I’d prefer Taylor Swift or Drake. They’re the only ones who can bring the Super Bowl back to former glory 😭 we used to hey Michael Jackson and Prince, now we get bad bunny.", commented a third.

Others also chimed in:

"oh PLEASE 😭 the way they act like Bad Bunny isn’t one of the biggest artists on the planet. Roger basically said “cry harder, the GP loves him” and he’s RIGHT.", penned a netizen.

"People acting like the NFL just handed the keys to the kingdom to Bad Bunny when this kind of backlash pops up with every single halftime show. The commissioner made a point, trying to please hundreds of millions of fans is impossible, and the dude knows how big this moment is. Bad Bunny’s not just some random pick; he’s a global star, and the Super Bowl’s always about putting on a show that gets everyone talking. If anything, it’s refreshing to have something different shaking up the usual lineup instead of the same old faces doing the same old songs", wrote another.

"That’s a classy and balanced response from Goodell, can’t please everyone, but you can aim for a cultural moment that unites rather than divides. Bad Bunny is global now; the NFL is just catching up to the world stage.", stated a third.

Goodell’s statement was the first official comment from the NFL since the backlash began in September 2025, when Apple Music, Roc Nation, and the league announced that Bad Bunny would take to the stage at the 2026 halftime show.

Soon after, Trump called the decision "absolutely ridiculous" and claimed he had "never heard of" the reggaeton star. POTUS said,

"I don't know who he is. I don't know why they are doing it. It is crazy."

Amid this buzz, Bad Bunny is all set for his Debí Tirar Más Fotos world tour, which notably avoids mainland U.S. venues. A complete itinerary of his upcoming run is as follows:

• Friday, November 21, 2025, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, Estadio Olímpico
• Saturday, November 22, 2025, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, Estadio Olímpico
• Friday, December 5, 2025, San Jose, Costa Rica, Estadio Nacional
• Saturday, December 6, 2025, San Jose, Costa Rica, Estadio Nacional
• Wednesday, December 10, 2025, Mexico City, Mexico, Estadio GNP Seguros
• Thursday, December 11, 2025, Mexico City, Mexico, Estadio GNP Seguros
• Friday, December 12, 2025, Mexico City, Mexico, Estadio GNP Seguros
• Monday, December 15, 2025, Mexico City, Mexico, Estadio GNP Seguros
• Tuesday, December 16, 2025, Mexico City, Mexico, Estadio GNP Seguros
• Friday, December 19, 2025, Mexico City, Mexico, Estadio GNP Seguros
• Saturday, December 20, 2025, Mexico City, Mexico, Estadio GNP Seguros
• Sunday, December 21, 2025, Mexico City, Mexico, Estadio GNP Seguros
• Friday, January 23, 2026, Medellin, Colombia, Estadio Atanasio Girardot
• Saturday, January 24, 2026, Medellin, Colombia, Estadio Atanasio Girardot
• Sunday, January 25, 2026, Medellin, Colombia, Estadio Atanasio Girardot
• Friday, January 30, 2026, Lima, Peru, Estadio Nacional
• Saturday, January 31, 2026, Lima, Peru, Estadio Nacional
• Thursday, February 5, 2026, Santiago, Chile, Estadio Nacional Julio Martínez Prádanos
• Friday, February 6, 2026, Santiago, Chile, Estadio Nacional Julio Martínez Prádanos
• Saturday, February 7, 2026, Santiago, Chile, Estadio Nacional Julio Martínez Prádanos
• Friday, February 13, 2026, Buenos Aires, Argentina, Estadio River Plate
• Saturday, February 14, 2026, Buenos Aires, Argentina, Estadio River Plate
• Sunday, February 15, 2026, Buenos Aires, Argentina, Estadio River Plate
• Friday, February 20, 2026, Sao Paulo, Brazil, Allianz Parque
• Saturday, February 21, 2026, Sao Paulo, Brazil, Allianz Parque
• Friday, February 28, 2026, Sydney, Australia, ENGIE Stadium
• Saturday, March 1, 2026, Sydney, Australia, ENGIE Stadium
• March 2026, Tokyo, Japan, Spotify TBD
• Friday, May 22, 2026, Barcelona, Spain, Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys
• Saturday, May 23, 2026, Barcelona, Spain, Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys
• Tuesday, May 26, 2026, Lisbon, Portugal, Estadio Da Luz
• Wednesday, May 27, 2026, Lisbon, Portugal, Estadio Da Luz
• Saturday, May 30, 2026, Madrid, Spain, Riyadh Air Metropolitano
• Sunday, May 31, 2026, Madrid, Spain, Riyadh Air Metropolitano
• Tuesday, June 2, 2026, Madrid, Spain, Riyadh Air Metropolitano
• Wednesday, June 3, 2026, Madrid, Spain, Riyadh Air Metropolitano
• Saturday, June 6, 2026, Madrid, Spain, Riyadh Air Metropolitano
• Sunday, June 7, 2026, Madrid, Spain, Riyadh Air Metropolitano
• Wednesday, June 10, 2026, Madrid, Spain, Riyadh Air Metropolitano
• Thursday, June 11, 2026, Madrid, Spain, Riyadh Air Metropolitano
• Sunday, June 14, 2026, Madrid, Spain, Riyadh Air Metropolitano
• Monday, June 15, 2026, Madrid, Spain, Riyadh Air Metropolitano
• Saturday, June 20, 2026, Dusseldorf, Germany, Merkur Spiel-Arena
• Sunday, June 21, 2026, Dusseldorf, Germany, Merkur Spiel-Arena
• Tuesday, June 23, 2026, Arnhem, The Netherlands, GelreDome
• Wednesday, June 24, 2026, Arnhem, The Netherlands, GelreDome
• Saturday, June 27, 2026, London, United Kingdom, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
• Sunday, June 28, 2026, London, United Kingdom, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
• Wednesday, July 1, 2026, Marseille, France, Orange Vélodrome
• Saturday, July 4, 2026, Paris, France, La Défense Arena
• Sunday, July 5, 2026, Paris, France, La Défense Arena
• Friday, July 10, 2026, Stockholm, Sweden, Strawberry Arena
• Saturday, July 11, 2026, Stockholm, Sweden, Strawberry Arena
• Tuesday, July 14, 2026, Warsaw, Poland, PGE Narodowy
• Friday, July 17, 2026, Milan, Italy, Ippodromo Snai La Maura
• Saturday, July 18, 2026, Milan, Italy, Ippodromo Snai La Maura
• Wednesday, July 22, 2026, Brussels, Belgium, King Baudouin Stadium

For further updates, fans can keep an eye on the official pages.

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