Spongebob Squarepants fans are getting pumped.
A couple of Sundays ago, Maroon 5 shared a promotional video for their Super Bowl LIII halftime show at Mercedes-Benz Stadium next month. The 59-second teaser is soundtracked by a drumline and shows the rock band as they prepare for the once-coveted gig. There's behind-the-scenes clips, concert footage, and a few shots of the halftime guest performers Travis Scott and Big Boi; but there was one part the video that created a stir on social media.
You caught that, right? Spongebob make a brief appearance at around the 32-second mark, leading fans to believe that the halftime show will include a tribute to Spongebob creator Stephen Hillenburg, who died of complications from ALS back in November. Shortly after the tragedy, petitioners called on the NFL to honor the cartoonist's legacy by playing "Sweet Victory" during the Super Bowl halftime show. The song was featured in the series' "Band Geeks" episode in which Spongebob and friends perform at Bikini Bottom's Bubble Bowl.
"As some of you may or may not know, Stephen Hillenburg—the creator of Spongebob Sqaurepants—has passed away recently," the petition created by Isreal Colunga read. "As a tribute to his legacy, his contributions to a generation of children, and to truly showcase the greatness of this song, we call for 'Sweet Victory' to be performed at the Halftime Show."
The petition has garnered 1,670,000 signatures as of Friday night.
Maroon 5's representatives did not immediately respond to Complex's request for comment.
Super Bowl LIII is going down Feb. 3.
