NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has moved to minimise the significant furore surrounding Puerto Rican artist Bad Bunny and the potential involvement of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at this year's Super Bowl, firmly stating on Tuesday that only the media is amplifying the controversy in the lead-up to the season's grand finale.
Halftime Show Sparks Political Outcry
The Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots are set to compete at Levi's Stadium this Sunday, with the high-profile halftime performance slot awarded to global music sensation Bad Bunny. This artistic selection ignited immediate outrage from former President Donald Trump and several of his political allies. Trump himself publicly branded the decision as 'crazy' and 'absolutely ridiculous', criticising the choice of the Puerto Rican performer.
Artist's Stance and Grammys Speech
Bad Bunny, whose real name is Benito Antonio Martinez Ocasio, has a history of criticising ICE. He previously cited the agency as a reason for excluding mainland US dates from his tour. The singer forcefully reignited this feud during a speech at the Grammy Awards on Sunday night, where he secured three trophies including the coveted Album of the Year.
'Before I say thanks to god, I'm going to say, ICE Out,' declared Bad Bunny from the stage. 'We are not savage. We are not animals. We are not aliens. We are humans, and we are Americans. 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. We don't hate them, we love our people, we love our family, and that's the way to do it, with love.'
Goodell Insists Storm is Media-Created
With merely days remaining until the Seahawks and Patriots face off, Commissioner Goodell suggested the brewing storm is not overshadowing Super Bowl LX. When questioned by the Daily Mail about potential frustration that ICE and Bad Bunny are dominating the pre-game narrative, he responded: 'I don't think that's true... I think the media is [talking about it]. I don't think anyone else is.'
Goodell addressed the halftime show directly during his annual pre-Super Bowl press conference on Monday, describing Bad Bunny as 'one of the greatest artists in the world'. He elaborated, 'He understood the platform he was on. This platform is used to unite people and to be able to bring people together with their creativity, with their talent, and to be able to use this moment to do that. 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 commissioner reiterated this supportive message on Tuesday evening, telling the Daily Mail simply, 'He's going to be great!'
Contrasting Statements on ICE Presence
The situation has been complicated by contrasting statements from government officials. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem had previously vowed, 'We’ll be all over that place,' referring to the Super Bowl event, and even urged people to avoid attending 'unless they are law-abiding Americans who love this country,' adding, 'we’re gonna enforce the law.' This followed a warning last year from Trump ally Corey Lewandowski that there would be no safe haven for undocumented individuals at the event.
However, in a significant development on Tuesday, the NFL's chief security officer, Cathy Lanier, stated unequivocally that ICE officers will play no role in security operations at this weekend's Super Bowl. 'There are no planned ICE enforcement activities. We are confident of that,' Lanier asserted. According to reports from the Associated Press, Department of Homeland Security official Jeff Brannigan has held a series of private calls with local officials and the NFL, during which he indicated that ICE has no plans to conduct law enforcement operations during Super Bowl week or at Levi's Stadium itself.
Event Amid National Tensions
This year's Super Bowl is occurring against a backdrop of heightened tensions across the United States. The fatal shooting of Alex Pretti in Minneapolis, which occurred just two weeks after 37-year-old Renee Good was fatally shot in her car by an ICE officer, has sparked widespread protests. These tragic incidents prompted initial fears of potential unrest spilling over to the Super Bowl environment, further fuelling the politically charged atmosphere surrounding the event.
Despite the swirling controversies and political commentary, the NFL leadership, led by Commissioner Goodell, appears determined to frame the upcoming spectacle as a unifying celebration of sport and entertainment, distancing the game itself from the external political debates.
