In the midst of the Super Bowl excitement, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell skillfully sidestepped the latest controversy involving Bad Bunny’s pointed remarks about ICE at the Grammy Awards. These comments came just days ahead of the Puerto Rican artist’s highly anticipated halftime performance at the Super Bowl featuring the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots.

During his customary Super Bowl week press conference, Goodell lauded Bad Bunny, calling him “one of the greatest artists in the world.” He acknowledged the artist’s awareness of his influential platform, adding, “I think Bad Bunny understands that and I think he’ll have a great performance.”

The Grammy Awards proved to be a triumphant night for Bad Bunny, who secured three awards, including the coveted Album of the Year. In his victory speech, he seized the moment to voice his criticism, declaring, “Before I say thanks to God, I’m going to say, ICE Out.” This bold statement was met with thunderous applause from the audience.

Continuing his acceptance speech, Bad Bunny passionately emphasized the humanity and American identity of those often marginalized, stating, “We are not savage. We are not animals. We are not aliens. We are humans, and we are Americans.”

Bad Bunny won three awards on Sunday night, including the prestigious Album of the Year, and said: ‘Before I say thanks to god, I’m going to say, ICE Out.’

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell remained coy on Bad Bunny’s ICE criticism at the Grammys

Bad Bunny won three awards on Sunday night, including the prestigious Album of the Year

He received a massive ovation from the crowd before he continued his speech. ‘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.’ 

The announcement that Bad Bunny, whose real name is Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, would perform was first made in late September, instantly placing the singer and rapper at the center of a political firestorm. 

Within days, the choice drew sharp rebukes from high-ranking government officials who questioned the artist’s past criticisms of U.S. immigration policies. He previously cited ICE agents as a reason he did not include any mainland US dates for his tour.

Donald Trump was among those to criticize the decision, and he later revealed that he would not be attending the game due to the Puerto Rican’s selection.

The Trump administration is expected to send ICE agents to the Bay Area ahead of the Seahawks’ clash with the Patriots.

Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem previously vowed ‘we’ll be all over that place’ while a DHS official this week warned: ‘Those who are here legally and are not breaking other laws have nothing to fear.’

Bad Bunny said in his victory speech: ‘Before I say thanks to god, I’m going to say, ICE Out.’

It came a week before Trump’s agents will be patrolling when he performs at the Super Bowl

The Super Bowl heads to Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara amid heightened tensions across America following the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti in Minneapolis, which came two weeks after 37-year-old Renee Good was fatally shot in her car by an ICE officer.

Their deaths have sparked widespread protests, with some in the Trump administration accusing local officials of not doing enough to support federal law enforcement and even heightening tensions. 

Reports on Thursday claimed there are no plans for ICE to carry out operations at Levi’s Stadium or at NFL-sponsored events in the build up to Super Bowl Sunday.

But DHS told TMZ that their plans to be on the ground around the Super Bowl had not changed despite unrest in Minneapolis.

Last year, meanwhile, Trump ally Corey Lewandowski warned: ‘There is nowhere that you can provide safe haven to people who are in this country illegally, not the Super Bowl, and nowhere else.’

He continued: ‘We will find you, we will apprehend you, we will put you in a detention facility and we will deport you.’ 

Noem even urged people to avoid the Super Bowl ‘unless they are law-abiding Americans who love this country,’ adding: ‘We’ll be all over that place… we’re gonna enforce the law.’