In December, it was reported that Cardi B declined the NFL’s offer to join Maroon 5’s Super Bowl LIII halftime show performance in support of former quarterback and political activist Colin Kaepernick. In a new interview with the Associated Press, Cardi said she was offered to perform but ultimately turned down the opportunity with “mixed feelings” to “stand behind” Kaepernick, who was blacklisted from the NFL for his peaceful protest of police brutality against people of color.

“I got to sacrifice a lot of money to perform,” Cardi told AP. “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.” The rapper also spoke on her involvement with Super Bowl-related events she’s slated to participate in: “If the NFL could benefit off from us, then I’m going to benefit off y’all…Because of y’all, we are getting these parties.”

Cardi B starred alongside Lil Jon and Steve Carell in a Super Bowl Pepsi commercial. Along with Maroon 5, Travis Scott and Big Boi are performing the event’s halftime show this Sunday in Atlanta. Both Scott and Maroon 5 have since announced charitable donations amidst the controversy surrounding their involvement with the NFL. (Kaepernick publicly disapproved of Scott’s decision to participate.) Gladys Knight, who will be singing the national anthem, also spoke on the NFL’s treatment of Kaepernick.

https://pitchfork.com/news/cardi-b-says-she-declined-super-bowl-halftime-show-in-support-of-colin-kaepernick