One of the many storylines from Super Bowl 54 on Sunday that still has fans talking days later was Beyonce and Jay-Z choosing to remain seated while Demi Lovato performed the national anthem before the game.
While the couple has not publicly addressed the situation, many people have inferred that it was done intentionally as a protest.
Whatever the exact reason for not standing, the move fired up social media and people have strong opinions on both side.
“They should move out of the US. Obviously they don’t care for the country that gave them success,” one wrote.
“I don’t care what these haters of the United States say or do. Don’t give them anymore attention unless they’ve committed a crime. Don’t buy any of their stuff. Let them be forgotten,” someone else said.
“Beyonce & Jay-Z remain seated during National Anthem,” added another. “That disrespect aside – she has sung the national anthem & performed 2 halftime shows, yet she couldn’t find it in her to support Lovato who suffered through many struggles? SMH.”
Some people were defending the power couple. “LOL at conservatives losing their shit over Beyonce and Jay-Z not standing for the anthem. Maybe if you guys would also take several seats and pay attention to actual injustice America would be better,” one wrote.
“People still don’t get it. Celebrities who have money and are rich and famous are still able to protest. Just because Jay-Z and Beyoncé are rich, doesn’t mean they can’t show support,” tweeted one person. “If people in power wouldn’t have helped Holocaust survivors, would millions have been saved?”
The move is an interesting one considering that Jay-Z teamed up with the NFL last year to create initiatives to help raise awareness for police brutality and social injustices.
“I think that we forget that Colin’s whole thing was to bring attention to social injustice, correct?” Jay-Z said during his press conference with the NFL in August. “So in that case, this is a success; this is the next thing. ‘Cause there’s two parts of protesting. You go outside and you protest, and then the company or the individual says, ‘I hear you. What do we do next?’ So for me, it was like, action, actionable item, what are we going to do with it? Everyone heard and we hear what you’re saying, and everybody knows I agree with what you’re saying. So what are we going to do? So we should, millions of millions of people, and all we get stuck on [is] Colin not having a job.”
