On Tyranny: Ultra-Rich Corporate CEO Stands With Bad Bunny in Super Bowl Flap
To most, it will seem incongruous that this website is cover footballing to any extent. Or applaud an American citizen whose net worth hovers in the $250 million range. But because the sport is caught between a pop mega-star and a hard right-wing contingent in the U.S., we find it fitting to salute NFL Commissioner (aka CEO) Roger Goodell for backing up Bad Bunny at a Super Bowl press conference this morning.
That’s not to mention that we previously covered the Latin hip-hop star’s decision to avoid touring the U.S. for fear of ICE raiding his concerts. And the fact that Trump, Kristi Noem and other sycophantic, bigoted trolls in the White House are unabashedly trying to limit free speech or even make it a crime. Ergo, the uproar over Bad Bunny’s scheduled performance at America’s most-watching sporting event should be made aware to musicians of all stripes.
To recap the downright stupid controversy, MAGA recently threw one of its daily kanipshins over the NFL tapping Bad Bunny to provide entertainment during the halftime show of Super Bowl LX, to be held Feb. 8. They argued that no artist who performs Spanish lyrics should be picked for such a sacred duty. And is as seemingly always the case these days, Trump inflamed his base even further by calling the Bad Bunny booking “ridiculous,” while U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Noem threatened to sic America’s newly created gestapo all over the event.
Unlike most corporate types who continue to cave to Trump’s deranged demands, Goodell defended the decision at a news conference this morning.
Bad Bunny 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. It’s carefully thought through,” Goodell pointed out. “I would say 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. But we’re 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 uniting moment.”
Goodell also spoke about the benefits of diversity, which will surely make some MAGA heads explode.
Goddell further stated: “I believe that our diversity efforts have led to making the NFL better. It’s attracted better talent. We think we’re better when we get different perspectives. People with different backgrounds, whether they’re women or men or people of color. We make ourselves stronger and we make ourselves better when we have that. And it’s something that I think will have a tremendous impact on this league for many, many years. We win on the field with the best talent and the best coaching, and I think the same is true off the field.”
Bravo to Bad Bunny for not obeying the Trump administration in advance by bowing out of his commitment. Bravo to Goodell. And bravo to the likely throngs of NFL employees and citizens sick to their stomach of what is unfolding in the U.S. who might have pressured Goodell to make the right call.
Check out The Bad Penny‘s ongoing On Tyranny series, which we launched in the spring, here. Recent installments include interviews with The Grasshopper Lies Heavy, Deaf Club, Cosmic Reaper, Terzij de Horde, MyVeronica, the Gunshy, Planet on a Chain, Necrofier, Cheap Perfume, Bobby Conn, Truculent, Spiritiste and many more.
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