Travis Scott performs at the ACL Music Festival. October 7, 2018
SUZANNE CORDEIRO/AFP/Getty Images
Next month Travis Scott will join Maroon 5 and Big Boi as entertainment at the Super Bowl half-time show in Atlanta. The decision to perform has proven contentious, with many artists having reportedly declined the opportunity to take the high-profile gig.
Variety reports that Scott spoke to Colin Kaepernick, the former San Fracisco 49ers player whose exile from the game is the center of people's beef with the NFL, prior to signing on for the show.
According to their sources, Scott and Kaepernick had "at least one phone conversation before the rapper confirmed his Super Bowl appearance." It is added that "while the two did not necessarily agree," they left their conversation with "mutual respect and understanding,"
Update - January 16, 11:22 A.M. Colin Kaepernick has shared a series of tweets indicating he did not condone Scott appearing at the Super Bowl during their conversation.
The football player retweeted a tweet from Beats 1 DJ Ebro in which he stated "Kap did not approve this bullshit! Get the fuck outta here...." as well as radio host Nessa tweeting, "There is NO mutual respect and there is NO understanding for anyone working against @Kaepernick7 PERIOD."
There is NO mutual respect and there is NO understanding for anyone working against @Kaepernick7 PERIOD. #stoplying https://t.co/0HB6kcWJRG
— NESSA (@nessnitty) January 16, 2019
The announcement that Scott would appear at the Super Bowl was accompanied by news that the NFL would donate $500,000 to Van Jones's non-profit social-justice organization Dream Corps. Variety's source suggests Scott felt this was essential to his involvement and proof that "everyone makes a statement in their own way."
The FADER has reached out to reps for Scott and Kaepernick.
In the run-up to the Super Bowl on February 4 thousands have signed a Change.org petition set-up urging Maroon 5, Scott and Big Boi into taking a knee in solidarity with Kaepernick.
