Normally at this time of year, famous musicians are waiting by their phones for the call to play the Superbowl Halftime show.
However, after the kneeling controversy, things have changed, with huge stars like Kendrick Lamar, Amy Schumer, Cardi B and Rihanna refusing to work with the NFL, in response to their stand on Colin Kaepernick's decision to kneel during the national anthem.
This is why many Maroon 5 fans were disappointed when it was rumoured that the band had agreed to perform the show.
According to Variety, the American pop rock band has "pretty much accepted” the gig for this year’s Super Bowl in Atlanta.
However, this speculation has outraged thousands of Americans, who have taken to the internet to beg Maroon 5 to reject the alleged invitation to play.
A petition online named 'Maroon 5: Drop Out of the Super Bowl Halftime Show' implores the musicians - including Adam Levine, Jesse Carmichael, Mickey Madden, James Valentine, Matt Flynn, PJ Morton and Sam Farrar - to drop out, and has already collected over 47,000 signatures. The aim is 50,000.
"Colin Kaepernick has sacrificed his NFL career to call out violent racism in America, and players across the country have followed his lead," the petition states. "Rihanna, Jay-Z, Amy Schumer, and others have refused to work with the NFL. Maroon 5: Americans look to artists and celebrities as leaders, and you have the opportunity to use your influence to take a stand."
Supporters of the cause have also taken to the comment section to express their feelings on the matter, with someone named Joanna Rodney-Lewis writing: "The NFL needs to realize that black people who makes up the majority of their players are disproportionately being murdered by the police (sic)."
Another petitioner named Cindy Macdonald added: "Maroon 5: you are an awesome band and I would miss seeing you perform at the halftime show, but I'm asking you to do the right thing, as your peers have done, and decline until the NFL stands up for players' rights to protest -- especially about something as basic as violence against other humans. All humans who care and have compassion need to stick together, walk our talk and show that we are all one, just different colors [sic]."
As it stands, the idea that Maroon 5 will play the halftime show is just a rumour. However, fans received some insight into the situation when lead singer Adam Levine appeared on The Ellen Degeneres Show last week.
Never shy, the talk show host got straight into things, telling the 39-year-old: "Let's talk about this rumor of you possibly performing at the Super Bowl."
"What the hell are you talking about?" Adam joked. He then added: "It's a rumor. I can neither confirm or deny the truth of this rumor. It's definitely a rumor. And the rumor seems to be a rumor that everyone seems to be discussing."
"It's the Super Bowl. It's a great event and there's gonna be a band performing, or an artist of some kind performing at halftime. And it's gonna be great regardless of who it is,' he added before crossing his fingers.
The Moves Like Jagger singer stirred gossip further by saying: "Whoever is lucky enough to get that gig probably is gonna crush it. Whoever does it is probably equal parts nervous and excited. This is all speculative because I don't know who I'm talking about."
"If it were you?" questioned Ellen.
"If it were me," he said. "I'd be excited, I'd be nervous. It's like a billion, gagillion people... If I were doing it, which I can't confirm or deny I am, I would be excited."
So, will the band agreed to play? Or will they take a stand against the NFL? Watch this space.
