NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has brushed aside the growing criticism over the league’s decision to feature Puerto Rican rapper Bad Bunny as the 2026 Super Bowl halftime performer. Speaking to reporters following the NFL’s Fall League Meeting, Goodell said the choice was “carefully thought through,” adding, “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.”
Breaking News. Spirit-Filled Stories. Subscribe to Charisma on YouTube now!
As reported by The Blaze, many fans were outraged when the NFL announced the decision, pointing to Bad Bunny’s resurfaced anti-Trump comments and history of political statements. The rapper, whose real name is Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, previously refused to perform on the U.S. mainland because of immigration enforcement policies under President Donald Trump.
“We’re confident it’s going to be a great show,” Goodell said. “He understands the platform that he’s on, and I think it’s going to be exciting and a united moment.” The commissioner defended the move by citing Bad Bunny’s worldwide popularity, calling him “one of the leading and most popular entertainers in the world.”
Order Jonathan Cahn’s Newest Book, “The Avatar” on Amazon.com!
President Trump weighed in on the controversy, telling reporters he had never heard of the performer and calling the decision “absolutely ridiculous.” The criticism intensified as fans accused the NFL of promoting divisive politics rather than celebrating American tradition, especially given the halftime show’s role as one of the nation’s most-watched events.
As previously reported by Charisma Media, this decision represents more than a questionable entertainment choice; it reveals the deeper spiritual decay shaping modern culture.
Bad Bunny’s performances frequently glorify rebellion and sexual perversion, featuring gender distortion, demonic imagery and themes that openly defy God’s created order. This is not harmless art or cultural expression. It is spiritual warfare disguised as entertainment. Scripture warns that we do not wrestle against flesh and blood but against the rulers of the darkness of this world. The symbolism in his shows mirrors reality, mocking the holy and celebrating the corrupt.
The NFL’s willingness to platform this kind of influence reflects a nation drifting further from biblical truth. What enters our homes through screens shapes hearts, especially the next generation. This is not merely about music; it is about spiritual conditioning. When rebellion against God becomes entertainment, the line between culture and corruption disappears.
Join Charisma Magazine Online to follow everything the Holy Spirit is doing around the world!
While Goodell insists the halftime show will be “a united moment,” it will instead mark another moment of division between light and darkness, truth and deception. The controversy is not simply about a performer but about the soul of a nation that has forgotten who it once was. It is time for believers to recognize this for what it is and stand firm in truth, refusing to let the world normalize what God calls sin.
James Lasher, a seasoned writer and editor at Charisma Media, combines faith and storytelling with a background in journalism from Otterbein University and ministry experience in Guatemala and the LA Dream Center. A Marine Corps and Air Force veteran, he is the author of The Revelation of Jesus: A Common Man’s Commentary and a contributor to Charisma magazine.
