Maroon 5 Struggles To Find Guest Artists For Super Bowl Halftime Show

Pop-rock group Maroon 5 is reportedly scheduled to perform during the 2019 Super Bowl Halftime Show, but are having trouble finding guests to join them during the gig.

Due to the ongoing controversial battle between the NFL and Colin Kaepernick, artists are denying requests to the most-watched event across the country on February 3, 2019. Kaepernick, who took a knee during the national anthem in 2016 to stand against police brutality toward people of color, was not picked up by any team in the league the following year.

According to sources who spoke with Variety, Maroon 5 reached out to more than a half-dozen artists to appear as guests during their 13-minute set, but all have denied to perform in support of Kaepernick. There are rumors that Cardi B, who is featured on the track “Girls Like You” with the band, was asked to perform, along with Andre 3000, Mary J. Blige, Usher, Lauryn Hill, and Nicki Minaj.

Variety reports that the band is also searching for a local act to perform with them. Atlanta-based performers who might appear on the bill include Migos, Lil Yachty, and Lil Baby, since their management company, Quality Control, has been speaking with representatives about the show. Post Malone and Bruno Mars are also names thrown into the mix, since both are performing in the area around the time of the Super Bowl.

An insider said “nobody wants to be associated with it,” which poses the question of who will sing the National Anthem. At this time, the NFL has not officially confirmed Maroon 5 as the Halftime Show performer, however earlier this year, two sources familiar with the plan confirmed the band’s performance.

It was reported that Rihanna passed on the performance in support of Kaepernick, leading comedian Amy Schumer to follow suit and turn down any offers for commercial jobs connected to the game.

“I think it would be cool if [Maroon 5] backed out of the Super Bowl like [Rihanna] did,” Schumer wrote in an Instagram Post, noting that “hitting the NFL with the advertisers is the only way to really hurt them.”