Harry Styles Will Sing at Super Bowl Pre-Show & Some Fans Aren’t Happy
Harry Styles is most famous for his work as a musician. He’s also had success as an actor. However, sports is not part of his brand as an entertainer. He’s looking to change that – and some of his fans are not happy.
The details of Harry Styles’ upcoming performance
Super Bowl LIV is on the horizon. The game’s halftime show headlined by Jennifer Lopez and Shakira has inspired public fascination. However, Lopez and Shakira won’t be the only pop singers performing in conjunction with the events.
Billboard reports Harry Styles is scheduled to perform at the Pepsi Zero Sugar Super Bowl party. The event will take place before the game. Styles will perform alongside superstar DJ Mark Ronson, who’s known for producing hits like Bruno Mars’ “Uptown Funk” and Lady Gaga’s “Shallow.”
Styles seems to be excited by this prospect. He said “I’m excited to be playing the Pepsi Super Bowl party this year. I hear they’re amazing and I’m looking forward to it. See you in Miami.”
Why his performance is controversial
Yet, some of Styles’ fans don’t want to see him perform in Miami, reports Newsweek. Using the hashtag “#harrybackout,” these disgruntled fans are asking Styles not to perform in honor of Colin Kaepernick. As many people – even those uninterested in sports – know, Kaepernick has had a contentious relationship with the NFL. Supporters of Kaepernick and Black Lives Matter don’t want Styles to perform at a Pepsi-funded show, as Pepsi is a major sponsor for the NFL.
So far, Styles has not responded to these requests. Most celebrities would never consider bowing out of such a prominent event. However, Styles is the sort who might listen to his fans.
Harry Styles’ history of supporting Black Lives Matter
Like many of his musical heroes from the 1960s, Styles has a history of promoting social causes. He considers himself an ally of the LGBTQ community and has waived the pride flag at his concerts. He’s also supported gun control measures. Billboard reports Styles once added a Black Lives Matter sticker to his guitar, and he waved a Black Lives Matter flag during a performance at Madison Square Garden.
How social issues inform Harry Styles’ music
Styles also confirmed his biggest hit, “Sign of the Times,” was partially inspired by Black Lives Matter. NME reports the singer commented on the track, saying “We’re in a difficult time, and I think we’ve been in many difficult times before. But we happen to be in a time where things happening around the world are absolutely impossible to ignore.”
He added “I think it would’ve been strange to not acknowledge what was going on at all. For example, ‘Sign of the Times,’ for me, it’s looking at several different things. That’s me commenting on different things
Kaepernick is one of the faces of the Black Lives Matter movement, so perhaps Styles will decide to stand in solidarity with him. There’s also a chance he could try to show solidarity with Kaepernick during his pre-show performance. We will have to see how his fans will react to the performance.
See also: How Many of Harry Styles’ Biggest Hits Can You Name?
