Jay-Z Says He and Beyoncé Could Not Have Been More Proud of Demi Lovato’s 2020 Super Bowl Performance
After being faced with immense backlash over the fact that he and wife Beyoncé sat during the National Anthem at the 2020 Super Bowl, Jay-Z is now setting the record straight.
It turns out that the couple wasn’t trying to convey a form of protest — as many NFL fans and critics initially thought — but instead remained seated for a reason that had nothing to do with politics.
The couple faced significant backlash for not standing
Despite being loved by fans all over the world, many people weren’t the happiest with Jay-Z and Beyoncé following the Super Bowl LIV.
The couple stirred up a ton of controversy on social media after they were spotted sitting while Demi Lovato sang the National Anthem during this year’s event.
Once football fans and critics caught a glimpse of this, they immediately took to Twitter to call out the couple for being “disrespectful.”
Others even claimed that the pair were modeling after Colin Kaepernick by making a “silent protest” against an anthem that “shows pride for a country that oppresses” African Americans and minorities.
Though the backlash against them was pretty intense, many of the couple’s loyal fans defended their decision to remain in their seats — pointing out that they weren’t the only ones in the stadium who didn’t stand for the anthem.
The talk surrounding Beyoncé and Jay-Z’s actions has since flooded Twitter, with many convinced that this was their way of making a political statement.
Lovato’s performance captivated everyone —including the power couple
Although many people took Jay-Z and Beyoncé not standing for the National Anthem as a sign of protest, it turns out that wasn’t the case at all.
During an appearance at Columbia University on Feb. 4, the rapper set the record straight on his and Bey’s decision to remain seated after being asked if this was an attempt to “convey a signal.”
“It actually wasn’t. Sorry.” JAY-Z said, according to a video obtained by TMZ. “It really wasn’t.”
The rapper went on to confess that he and his wife “immediately jumped into artist mode” as soon as singer Yolanda Adams took the stage and remained seated because they were so focused on the functionality of each musical performance.
“What happened was, we got there, we were sitting, and now the show’s about to start,” he continued. “My wife was with me and so she says to me, ‘I know this feeling right here.’ Like, she’s super nervous because she’s performed at Super Bowls before. I haven’t.”
“I’m really just looking at the show. The mics start. Was it too low to start?” the rapper explained. “So the whole time we’re sitting there, we’re talking about the performance.”
Jay-Z goes on to admit that once Lovato took the stage, he and Beyoncé were instantly mesmerized by her performance and didn’t even realize they were still in their seats.
“And then right after that, Demi comes out, and we’re talking about how beautiful she looks and how she sounds, and what she’s gone through in her life for her to be on the stage and we’re so proud of her,” he continued.
In June 2018, Lovato suffered an apparent overdose, just one month after she admitted in her single “Sober,” that she relapsed following six years of sobriety.
Since then, the singer has been working hard to maintain her sobriety and has been frequently documenting her progress on social media.
Although she had been through a lot in her personal life, Lovato was able to come out on top and recently showcased her incredible strength during the 2020 Grammy Awards.
Following his explanation, the rapper reiterates that he and Bey “weren’t making a silent protest and believed they didn’t have to, adding that the diverse group of artists chosen to perform was “the biggest, loudest protest of all.”
So there you have it, Beyoncé and Jay-Z weren’t making a political statement at the 2020 Super Bowl but instead were just two artists captivated by the musical performances and their logistics.
