Maroon 5 make donation, cancel press conference amid Super Bowl backlash

Maroon 5 has partnered with the NFL to donate $500,000 to charity amid Super Bowl controversy. However, fans aren’t pleased that the league canceled the band’s press conference. 

The headliners, Interscope Records and the NFL will make the donation to Big Brothers Big Sisters of America.

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Big Boi and Travis Scott will also perform with Maroon 5 after they struggled to find other acts. The struggle was due to the boycotting of the NFL due to them blacklisting Colin Kaepernick for his on-field protests.

The NFL also canceled Maroon 5’s press conference at the Super Bowl. The statement said that the artists would “let the show do the talking.” However, many people do not believe it. They think it was solely for the band to avoid questions about Kaepernick.

The league said they would use their own media to give fans an inside look at the performance.

Maroon 5 recently defended their decision to play the Super Bowl after the slew of backlash, including a petition urging them to drop out.

In an interview with People, Maroon 5’s keyboardist, PJ Morton discussed their dream to play the halftime show. 

“I think there are plenty of people—a lot of the players, to be honest—who support Kap and also do their job for the NFL,” Morton tells People. “I think we’re doing the same thing. We can support being against police brutality against black and brown people and be in support of being able to peacefully protest and still do our jobs.”

He continues, talking about the backlash the band’s received.

“You can get bogged down by those things, we’re not focusing on the negative now [while] being aware, being open, and definitely not ignoring the voices,” the keyboardist reveals. “We’re blocking out the noise. We’re just doing what we do. He look to have a good time.”

Maroon 5 isn’t the only act making a donation on behalf of their performance. Scott agreed to perform at the halftime show in the condition that the NFL partner with him to make a $500,000 donation to the Dream Corps, a company that supports social justice efforts.

“I back anyone who takes a stand for what they believed in,” the “Sicko Mode” rapper said in a statement. “I know being an artist that it’s in my power to inspire. So before confirming the Super Bowl Halftime performance, I made sure to partner with the NFL on this important donation. I am proud to support Dream Corps and the work they do that will hopefully inspire and promote change.”

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