After weeks of hand-wringing, Maroon 5 and Travis Scott performed their halftime show at Super Bowl LIII.
The pop-rock group, the ASTROWORLD rapper, and Atlanta representative Big Boi teamed up for a show that included a lot of flames, a marching band, and SpongeBob SquarePants.
Maroon 5 started the set with a flame-filled performance of "Harder to Breathe." They moved into "This Love" to remind Atlanta that they have been at this for a very long time. Fanfare from SpongeBob's band helped introduce Travis for "Sicko Mode."
Maroon 5 jumped in at the end of that hit to rock it up a bit. Maroon 5 churched up "Girls Like You" with the help of a gospel choir and a marching band, then took it back with "She Will Be Loved."
Big Boi came out with Sleepy Brown to the sounds of "I'm on It" before transitioning into "The Way You Move." Adam Levine took the set back with "Sugar" and a shirtless rendition of "Moves Like Jagger."
Maroon 5 and Travis Scott's decision to accept the halftime show gig was met with consternation by many artists who disagree with the league's handling of player protests and the continued icing out of quarterback-turned-activist Colin Kaepernick.
Cardi B turned down the league's offer and JAY-Z reportedly warned Scott away from taking the deal. Ultimately, Scott accepted with the stipulation that the league would need to make a charitable donation to the "social justice accelerator" Dream Corps.
Just as not all artists were willing to turn the show down, not every performer was on board with the idea of taking a stand against the NFL on principle.
"I think all of that's stupid," Akon said of the idea that performers should consider the optics of an NFL performance after being asked by TMZ. "You're in this business for two reasons: One is to make an impact, and two is for the business of it. Now if you a philanthropist... If that's something that you feel like you believe in, and you fight for it? You have every right. But if you doing it and you look at it as a way expanding who you are as an artist and as a business, you also have a right."
You can watch the halftime show up top or here.
