But the league's policy against taking a knee during the national anthem, and the subsequent boycotts sparked by the NAACP and others, has prevented the league from capitalizing on the city's goodwill. Tapping some of that A-Town talent for a halftime blowout could have been an easy ratings victory, especially considering how desperate the NFL has been to attract younger viewers in recent years. The city is driving pop culture right now, with artists like Future and Childish Gambino - scheduled to headline Coachella in April - at the forefront, and with legacy acts ranging from Lil Jon to Ludacris who can still rock crowds. On paper, the NFL couldn't have picked a better time to come to Atlanta. "Gladys Knight performing the national anthem sucks and highlights our inability as the oppressed and over-policed to use our power to hold institutions accountable." "Just because I love respect someone doesn't mean I like their choices," Ebro Darden, a Hot 97 morning show host and the global head of hip-hop and R&B at Apple Music, tweeted today. An online petition that originally urged Maroon 5 to decline the invitation is now pushing for all three acts to take a knee during the performance in symbolic support of Kaepernick. Both Jay Z and Common have reportedly attempted to dissuade Scott from performing. But the additions of featured performances by hip-hop stars Travis Scott and Big Boi have only further escalated public criticism. (Adele and P!nk also declined for different or unspecified reasons.) The NFL finally made its halftime lineup official this week, confirming months of speculation that Maroon 5 will headline the show. The list of artists who have declined to perform during the halftime show, to stand in solidarity with Kaepernick, includes Jay Z, Rihanna and Cardi B. Knight long ago earned her right to claim whatever stage she deems worthy of her presence - but it's a hollow argument to suggest that the many performers boycotting on Kaepernick's behalf have no right to the inverse.Īnalysis Even With Rappers Set To Perform, Super Bowl's Halftime Show Remains Tone-Deaf Ultimately, it suggests Kaepernick's freedom to kneel in protest will have to be as hard-fought as the opportunity to sing before the biggest television audience once was for black performers. It's the kind of statement that could easily be propped up to divide the generations - civil rights against hip-hop. 3 to give the anthem back its voice, to stand for that historic choice of words, the way it unites us when we hear it and to free it from the same prejudices and struggles I have fought long and hard for all my life, from walking back hallways, from marching with our social leaders, from using my voice for good - I have been in the forefront of this battle longer than most of those voicing their opinions to win the right to sing our country's anthem on a stage as large as the Super Bowl LIII." Knight continued: "I am here today and on Sunday, Feb. In a statement to Variety, Knight said it's "unfortunate that our national anthem has been dragged into this debate when the distinctive senses of the national anthem and fighting for justice should each stand alone." She added: "I pray that this national anthem will bring us all together in a way never before witnessed and we can move forward and untangle these truths which mean so much to all of us.The NFL's latest play came on Thursday, with the announcement that Gladys Knight will perform the national anthem to open this year's Super Bowl. "From walking back hallways, from marching with our social leaders, from using my voice for good - I have been in the forefront of this battle longer than most of those voicing their opinions to win the right to sing our country’s anthem on a stage as large as the Super Bowl LIII." "I am here on Sunday to give the anthem back its voice, to stand for that historic choice of words, the way it unites us when we hear it and to free it from the same prejudices and struggles I have fought long and hard for all my life. I'm proud to just honour them by singing that anthem. I think about the people that fought, and marched, and died, and did all those things for our country. "I choose all my songs by what they say, or what they would make me. It's really as simple as that," Knight said. This is my state, my city and I love my country. Speaking to ET Online, Knight explained that she wanted to use the anthem to bring everyone together.
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