Watch Beyonce and Jay-Z Refuse to Stand for the National Anthem at the Super Bowl (VIDEO)
The Super Bowl had not even kicked off Sunday, and the game was already stirring controversy.
Husband and wife celebrity duo Beyonce and Jay-Z were attending the Super Bowl in Miami and chose to sit throughout the National Anthem, even though everyone around them stood.
The gesture brought to mind Colin Kaepernick’s National Anthem protests, which deeply divided football fans and led to a steep decline in viewership.
In exclusive video obtained by TMZ, Beyonce, Jay-Z, and their child Blue Ivy are seen sitting in a private box at the Super Bowl as Demi Lovato sang the anthem. Even TMZ took note that others around them stood, making their snub even more noticeable.
Jay-Z had partnered with the NFL to highlight calls for reform after instances of police brutality, in an attempt to close the rift between fans and players who wanted to continue kneeling during the anthem.
The rapper had faced criticism from liberal black activists who said he was selling out by joining with the NFL. He insisted that he hadn’t betrayed Colin Kaepernick’s cause, and said they still shared the same goals.
Both Beyonce and Jay-Z have been active both politically and socially, and in 2016, they were vocal supporters of Hillary Clinton. Last October, President Donald Trump referenced them directly in a speech, saying he didn’t need their support to win the election.
Here’s the exclusive video from TMZ Sports.
Andrew Pollack didn’t appreciate their gesture, calling them “unpatriotic scum.”
Neither Beyonce nor Jay-Z commented on the controversy following the game.
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H/T: TMZ
