Maroon 5 was a controversial choice to play the Super Bowl Halftime Show, but given Twitter’s reaction to Adam Levine, it all worked out.
While the game itself was both boring and a crushing disappointment, the Halftime Show made quite a buzz.
Now, Adam Levine is gushing to fans for all of their support. And he also has some words for his critics
In a post on the Maroon 5 Instagram page, lead singer and only-band-member-anyone-can-name Adam Levine writes to his fans.
"When we accepted the responsibility to perform at the SBHTS," the caption begins. "I took out my pen and just wrote."
"Some of the words that came to me in that moment," he says.
Adam continues: "eventually made their way onto the incredible lanterns that flew high and low tonight."
"We thank the universe for this historic opportunity to play on the world’s biggest stage," he writes.
The Maroon 5 singer and The Voice judge is thanking more than just the cosmos.
"We thank our fans for making our dreams possible," he gushes.
Maroon 5 was a surprising choice for the Super Bowl, but they wouldn’t have been there without their fans.
"And," Adam writes. "We thank our critics for always pushing us to do better."
Yes, Maroon 5 has no shortage of critics.
He concludes: "One Love."
Adam also shares the different inspiration words that he wrote down onto a list.
"And the list of words is…" he says.
"Forgive. Laugh. Cry. Smile. Share. Live. Endure. Embrace. Remember. Enlighten. Preserve," he lists.
"Inspire," the list goes on. "Sweat. Fight. Express. Give. Receive. Elevate. Climb. Unify. Fortify. Soften. Dance."
"Scream. Dream. Educate. Provide. Inhale. Exhale. Persevere. Stand. Kneel," the list continues.
Kneel could have been a bold choice, seen as a small nod to Colin Kaepernick’s brave protest that eventually cost him his career.
But it comes right after the word stand, which more or less cancels it out. Oh, well.
"Overcome. Love. Listen," the list concludes.
Maroon 5 was a controversial pick for the Super Bowl Halftime Show.
But then, any musicial who took the gig would have been controversial.
Major talents like Rihanna and Cardi B had declined the gig in protest of the NFL’s vicious blacklisting of Colin Kaepernick.
After that, anyone who agreed to put on the usually-coveted musical performance would be in an awkward position.
Guest artist Travis Scott was slammed for his hypocrisy for taking part in the gig because he claims to support Kaepernick.
That said, most of the people who actually tuned in to watch the game probably didn’t care so much.
If you’re tuning in, therefore supporting the game, you’re not really in a position to judge someone for participating.
Some folks aren’t interested in men, others are but Adam Levine isn’t their type.
Everyone else, however, took to social media during the Halftime Show to openly confess their self-described shameful thirst for the singer.
He had removed his shirt during the performance.
That topless act also stirred up controversy, as social media very reasonably noted some major double standards.
It is not difficult to recall that Janet Jackson was blacklisted after her infamous "wardrobe malfunction" resulted in a nip slip.
Why are these instances different?
Well, to hear network folks tell it, there’s something magical about nipples on a woman that are just fundamentally different from nipples on a man.
It’s the same bizarre cultural stigma that makes some people comically squeamish about women breastfeeding their babies.
Janet is still haunted by one nip slip, while Adam received scores of praise for whipping his tatted tatas out for the same program.
This injustice should not be permitted to go on.
Our solution?
We would humbly suggest that Adam Levine could have avoided accusations of sexist double standards by wearing a pair of nipple tassels.