Sunday's Super Bowl LIII included a victory from the New England Patriots and a lackluster halftime show that drew little excitement from fans and viewers, but not everyone tuned in.
According to Time magazine, many chose not to watch the game in solidarity with Colin Kaepernick. The 31-year-old player, who is being blackballed by numerous teams, became a social justice activist when he chose to kneel in protest of police brutality during a San Francisco 49ers pre-season game in 2016.
His statement of protest during the game's national anthem was meant to “show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses Black people and people of color,” in light of police brutality plaguing the nation at the time.
Although the Super Bowl, which was hosted in Atlanta, attempted to honor the civil rights movement with a coin toss to the song "Glory" from the movie Selma, the gesture wasn't enough given the NFL's treatment of Kaepernick and his social justice movement.
Celebrities including Ava DuVernay, Common, LeBron James and more took to Twitter to share why they did not watch the Los Angeles Rams lose to Tom Brady and his crew.
"I will not be a spectator, viewer or supporter of the #SuperBowl today in protest of the @NFL’s racist treatment of @Kaepernick7 and its ongoing disregard for the health + well-being of all its players. To watch the game is to compromise my beliefs. It’s not worth it. #ImWithKap," DuVernay tweeted.
I will not be a spectator, viewer or supporter of the #SuperBowl today in protest of the @NFL’s racist treatment of @Kaepernick7 and its ongoing disregard for the health + well-being of all its players. To watch the game is to compromise my beliefs. It’s not worth it. #ImWithKap
pic.twitter.com/fNEeke0crs— Ava DuVernay (@ava) February 3, 2019
James tweeted a series of emojis after sharing a photo of himself posted initially on Kaepernick's Twitter.
????????????‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️ https://t.co/TVzN571mb0
— LeBron James (@KingJames) February 3, 2019
Rapper Common posted a picture of himself standing with educator and former Black Panther Dr. Angela Davis along with a caption that clearly explains what team the Selma actor was on.
"You know where I Stand. #IStandWithKap," he wrote.
You know where I Stand. #IStandWithKap
pic.twitter.com/U1vjPny36y— COMMON (@common) February 3, 2019
Activist Shaun King confessed that he hadn't watched the NFL in years after the organization banned players from taking a knee on the field as a form of protest during the national anthem.
"I haven’t watched a single game of football since the @NFL basically banned @Kaepernick7 for taking a peaceful knee for families impacted by police brutality. I was a super fan, and have so many friends in the league, but I just can’t support a product that has done this," King wrote.
I haven’t watched a single game of football since the @NFL basically banned @Kaepernick7 for taking a peaceful knee for families impacted by police brutality.
I was a super fan, and have so many friends in the league, but I just can’t support a product that has done this.
— Shaun King (@shaunking) February 3, 2019
Kaepernick shared a photo of Steph Curry rocking a jersey emblazoned with "I'm With Kap" across the chest.
"The greatest shooter ever, and great human being! @StephenCurry30 Thank you for always supporting! Tell Canon I said what’s up," he tweeted.
The greatest shooter ever, and great human being! @StephenCurry30 Thank you for always supporting! Tell Canon I said what’s up! ✊???? pic.twitter.com/HTJR2uFd5S
— Colin Kaepernick (@Kaepernick7) February 4, 2019
Other celebs and supporters also shared their support on Twitter:
Still https://t.co/zjZolYsCWE
— Zendaya (@Zendaya) February 3, 2019
As always #ImWithKap
#BlackHistoryMonth
pic.twitter.com/MwLDKXzp1I— Mari Copeny (@LittleMissFlint) February 3, 2019
My brother @chamillionaire always been a real one! ✊???? pic.twitter.com/v0uRUyQfTu
— Colin Kaepernick (@Kaepernick7) February 3, 2019
#ImWithKap and have been all season . And the below are just a few reasons why . @ava said it best ! Thank you . Cc: @Kaepernick7 ✊???? https://t.co/1MPPUfdiH1
— Janelle Monáe, Cindi (@JanelleMonae) February 3, 2019
Super what? Nah! I’m with @kaepernick7
#imwithkap
pic.twitter.com/TL2f2LdEof— Goapele (@Goapele) February 3, 2019
I am in solidarity with @Kaepernick7 & the struggle for racial justice #ImWithKap
pic.twitter.com/6kSRVPsI1q— Piper Perabo (@PiperPerabo) February 4, 2019
Haven't watched a @NFL game all season and won't be watching today. Can't support an organization that tolerates all sorts of bad behavior from players, but systematically banned @Kaepernick7 for bringing injustice to light. #ImWithKap
#Superbowl
#SuperBowlLIII
#SuperBowlSunday— Jon Manuel (@JonManuel) February 3, 2019
This brother walked past me just now and I asked if I could snap a photo. He asked if I'm watching the #SuperBowl tonight and I said "nope." He said he wasn't either, and wanted people to know why. ✊???? #ImWithKap
pic.twitter.com/ehGUxnf3kt— Torraine Walker (@TorraineWalker) February 3, 2019
Priorities. ✊????✊???? …. #ImWithKap
#7Challenge
https://t.co/mXT8tR1JU6— El Viejo Ebro (@oldmanebro) February 3, 2019
#ImWithKap
#7Challenge! I am donating $7 to Colin’s Know Your Rights Camp. The number 7 symbolizes Kap’s jersey number. I challenge you to donate $7 to @YourRightsCamp and nominate 7 others to do the same. Go to https://t.co/Bonrfn2Jf2 and click donate. @Kaepernick7
pic.twitter.com/upSma6Hcxs— Nick Cannon (@NickCannon) February 3, 2019
So, did you watch? *inserts side-eye*
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