ATLANTA (CelebrityAccess) — While Maroon 5 has not been officially announced as the headlining act for the Super Bowl halftime performance next year, that hasn’t stopped thousands of the band’s fans from singing a petition urging them not to perform at the high profile gig.
The petition, posted to Change.org, urges Maroon-5 to support quarterback Colin Kaepernick and other players who have used their profile as players and cheerleaders in the league to call for criminal justice reform.
“Until the league changes their policy and support players’ constitutional right to protest, no artists should agree to work with the NFL,” wrote Vic Oyedeji, who launched the petition “Join me in asking Maroon 5 to drop out of the 2019 Super Bowl halftime show.”
“Maroon 5 has made music over the years featuring artists from all genres, including Rihanna, Cardi B and Kendrick Lamar — all of whom have publicly supported Kaepernick in his decision to protest the violent racism sweeping the United States,” the petition says. “Maroon 5 must do the same. The band has a chance to stand on the right side of history. If they don’t, they will be remembered for choosing to side with the NFL over its players.”
Since the petition went live, more than 48,000 people have signed it. The petition notes that Rihanna reportedly turned down the gig in support of the Kaepernick protest.
However, the NFL has not officially announced who the halftime act will be. Both Rihanna and Maroon 5 have both been rumored to have been potential performers, but the league has not publicly confirmed if they have been invited for the Feb 3rd. gig.
While viewership for the big game was down in 2018, the halftime show was still seen by more than 100 million people.
While he wasn’t the first player to do so, Kaepernick, who was the quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers, became a lightning rod for controversy when he took a knee during the national anthem to protest social injustice and police brutality. He hasn’t played for the league since 2016, but that hasn’t stopped other players from joining the protest.
