Cardi B Says She Turned Down Performing at the Super Bowl to Defend Colin Kaepernick

A number of artists were offered the coveted slot to perform at the Pepsi Super Bowl LIII Halftime Show this year, but declined in support of former San Francisco 49ers Quarterback Colin Kaepernick. Among these artists (we now know) is Cardi B.

Per a report from People, Cardi grappled with the decision to perform but ultimately sided with Kaepernick for the way he “stood up” for minorities.

“My husband, he loves football. His kids play football. It’s really hard for him…He really wants to go to the Super Bowl, but he can’t go to the Super Bowl, because he’s got to stand for something,” Cardi told the Associated Press on Friday Evening. “You have to sacrifice that. I got to sacrifice a lot of money to perform. But there’s a man who sacrificed his job for us, so we got to stand behind him.”

Getty ImagesPaul Marotta

Kaepernick started the #TakeAKnee movement during the 2016 NFL season when he kneeled during the National Anthem at the start of each game in order to bring attention to police brutality and racism in the U.S. Although he was joined by a widespread number of players throughout the season, Kaepernick eventually chose not to renew his contract with the 49ers and has yet to be signed by another NFL team. Kaepernick is currently suing the National Football League for conspiring internally to keep him from getting signed (due to his political activism on the field).