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Thousands sign petition demanding Maroon 5 drops Super Bowl halftime show

Adam Levine of Maroon 5 performs at Wembley Arena on May 26, 2015 in London, England. Joseph Okpako / WireImage

Adam Levine-led pop band Maroon 5 could be set to headline the halftime show at next February’s Superbowl in Atlanta.

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Although they have not been confirmed for Super Bowl LIII, the band has been strongly urged not to perform. There’s now a petition to back it up.

The petition requests that Maroon 5 should reject their supposed offer to perform because of the NFL’s policies and decision regarding former San Francisco 49ers quarterback, Colin Kaepernick.

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Kaepernick was exiled from the NFL earlier this year because of his decision to kneel in protest during the national anthem.

Adam Levine (L) and James Valentine of Maroon 5 onstage during iHeartRadio Jingle Ball at Madison Square Garden on Dec. 12, 2014, in New York City. Kevin Kane / Getty Images for iHeartMedia

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The NFL decided that all players must now “stand and show respect for the flag and the anthem,” or their team will be fined.

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The league announced the anthem policy in May, following nearly two years of protests started by Kaepernick. He began his quiet but powerful protest against police brutality and racial inequities in the justice system back in 2016.

Many other players took up the cause, and the gesture carried on during the 2017 season, even after Kaepernick left the 49ers.

(L-R) Eli Harold, Colin Kaepernick and Eric Reid of the San Francisco 49ers kneel on the sideline during the National Anthem on Oct. 2, 2016, in Santa Clara, Calif. Thearon W. Henderson / Getty Images

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The petition was created by a North Carolina resident by the name of Vic Oyedeji. He reached out to Levine in hopes that the Moves Like Jagger band would use its power and influence as popular celebrities to take a stand against racial inequality.

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“Kaepernick has sacrificed his NFL career to call out violent racism in America, and players across the country have followed his lead,” he wrote. “Rihanna, Jay-Z, Amy Schumer and others have refused to work with the NFL.”

“Maroon 5: Americans look to artists and celebrities as leaders,” he added. “You have huge opportunity to use your influence to take a stand.”

Adam Levine of Maroon 5 performs during their encore at The Forum on April 4, 2015, in Inglewood, Calif. Christopher Polk / Getty Images

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Oyedeji’s petition has caused a lot of confusion amongst NFL supporters and Maroon 5 fans due to its headline.

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“Maroon 5: Drop Out of the Super Bowl Halftime Show,” it reads.

The petition is often being mistaken as a malicious demand for Maroon 5 not to play the halftime show, rather than a protest against the NFL.

The result of this misunderstanding is a complete divide of opinions.

Here’s what NFL supporters had to say

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An abundance of football fans are signing the petition not because they dislike Maroon 5, but because they disagree with the idea of a Californian band representing a game set to take place in Atlanta.

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Many Maroon 5 fans are crying outrage against the petition, questioning why it was created in the first place.

Here’s what they had to say

Others have taken the time to read the petition to understand and embrace its cause.

You can sign Oyedeji’s petition against social injustice at change.org.

(L-R) Matt Flynn, PJ Morton, Jesse Carmichael, James Valentine, Adam Levine, Mickey Madden, and Sam Farrar of Maroon 5 at The Shrine Auditorium on Nov. 18, 2014, in Los Angeles, Calif. Frazer Harrison / WireImage

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As of this writing, the petition has gone viral and received more than 40,000 signatures.

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Levine and Maroon 5’s publicists have not made further comment.

— With files from Adam Frisk

adam.wallis@globalnews.ca

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