Meek Mill has questioned Travis Scott’s motives after it was reported that he would perform alongside Maroon 5 during halftime of Super Bowl LIII in February this year.
Scott is now being widely accused of breaking an informal musicians’ strike in solidarity with quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who has been effectively driven out of the NFL since he began a protest against racial injustice and police violence by taking a knee during the national anthem.
For what???? https://t.co/oTZ4PsDqcD
— Meek Mill (@MeekMill) December 20, 2018
He don’t need that he on fire already! Stay strong in this shit!
— Meek Mill (@MeekMill) December 20, 2018
And don’t get it twisted I fuck wit Travis too!
— Meek Mill (@MeekMill) December 20, 2018
Travis will join Maroon 5 on stage, but Scott is apparently coming under intense pressure from the Hip-Hop Community not to participate. Variety has reported that Jay-Z, who has angrily criticized the NFL’s boycott of Kaepernick, is also putting pressure on Scott to reconsider.
Maroon 5 have come under similar criticism from much of their fanbase and have struggled to to find a black act to take the stage with them. Variety says Cardi B, Outkast, Usher, Lauryn Hill, Nicki Minaj, Mary J. Blige, Big Boi, and Rihanna have all refused to perform, in solidarity with Kaepernick, who filed a collusion grievance against the league’s owners in 2017.
Despite being just 31, and with an impressive résumé including a Super Bowl appearance, Kaepernick was not re-signed in subsequent seasons by any NFL team.
Maroon 5 and Travis Scott are both represented by Irving Azoff’s Full Stop Management. Neither act has yet been officially confirmed, an unprecedented delay in announcing a halftime headliner. 2018 Super Bowl performer Justin Timberlake made his announcement in October 2017.
Travis Scott's Joining Maroon 5 for Super Bowl 53 Halftime Show in Atlanta https://t.co/TqINdzgd4c
— TMZ (@TMZ) December 20, 2018
