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Maroon 5 Is Probably The Super Bowl Halftime Show Headliner. Cue Backlash

September 19th, 2018

Adam Levine of Maroon 5 is shown performing at the Rock in Rio music festival last year. Maroon 5 is scheduled to headline the Super Bowl halftime show in Atlanta on Feb. 3 – but that is definitely not music to the ears of many on Twitter.

Silvia Izquierdo / Associated Press file

Expect to see Maroon 5 perform during the 2019 Super Bowl Halftime Show on Feb. 3, according to Billboard.

The decision, which per tradition hasn’t been announced officially, has led to some criticism. Dan Wolken, an Atlanta-based USA Today sports columnist, panned the NFL for ignoring Atlanta’s music culture. A Vulture article highlighted Bruno Mars’ efforts to get a hometown performer to headline the event.

And Twitter? Well Twitter’s reaction to the pop and rock band from Los Angeles’ selection to headline the Atlanta halftime show was pretty predictable.

Jake Reuse, a Blue Ridge native, suggested that musicians from Atlanta, ranging from Usher to T.I., could have been selected to headline the show.

Atlanta, home of Outkast, T.I., Future, Ludacris, Usher, etc., gets Maroon 5 to play the damn Super Bowl. pic.twitter.com/KHpGNRsJGX

— Jake Reuse (@ReuseRecruiting) September 19, 2018

Christina Lee, an Atlanta-based music writer, said no one “moves like Jagger” in Atlanta.

THE SUPER BOWL IS IN ATLANTA. NO ONE HERE MOVES LIKE JAGGER. https://t.co/MvImgTiZns

— Christina Lee (@MinaAnnLee) September 19, 2018

Billboard also reported that Cardi B and Travis Scott are on “the short list” to perform.

Brian McCarthy, the vice president of communications at the NFL, said performance plans are still being finalized for the halftime show.

It's a Super Bowl tradition to speculate about the performers for the Pepsi Halftime Show. We are continuing to work with @pepsi on our plans but do not have any announcements to make on what will be another epic show.

— Brian McCarthy (@NFLprguy) September 19, 2018