NAACP asking Super Bowl halftime performers to rethink participation

The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) is calling on artists to boycott the Super Bowl LIII halftime show in support of Colin Kaepernick.

Gerald Griggs, vice president of the Atlanta chapter of the NAACP, told Edward Helmore of The Observer that the group has reached out to the performers who have signed on for the show, asking them to rethink their participation.

"The majority of artists we've reached out to are standing in solidarity against the NFL," Griggs said. "They do not want to be associated because of the protest that was started by Mr. Kaepernick against racial injustice and police brutality."

Rihanna and Cardi B both reportedly passed on opportunities to perform at the Super Bowl LIII halftime show in solidarity with Kaepernick.

Maroon 5 has long been rumored as the headlining act, with Travis Scott as one of their guests, though neither has confirmed their participation. Variety's Jem Aswad and Shirley Halperin reported in December that Jay-Z is trying to talk Scott out of performing.

"We would implore them to rethink their participation," Griggs said. "The protest Mr. Kaepernick is making over the number of people killed by law enforcement has not been resolved. We would hope they would use their celebrity status to send that message to an even broader audience by pulling out."