Singer Adele has revealed she turned down an offer to perform at the 2017 Super Bowl half-time show, stating that the event is not about music. Speaking to an audience at her Los Angeles gig, Adele said, 'First of all, I'm not doing the Super Bowl. I mean, that show is not about music. I can't dance or anything like that. They were very kind, they did ask me, but I did say no.'
However, the NFL and sponsor Pepsi have denied making a formal offer to Adele. In a joint statement, they said, 'We have had conversations with several artists about the Pepsi Super Bowl half-time show. However, we have not at this point extended a formal offer to Adele or anyone else. We are focused on putting together a fantastic show for Houston and we look forward to revealing that in good time.'
Adele also dismissed rumours that she was pregnant and planning to announce the news during the half-time show. 'It's gruelling,' she told the crowd. 'I couldn't be pregnant and travel this much.'
The Super Bowl half-time show has previously featured major acts such as Madonna, the Rolling Stones, and Prince. Last year's performance by Beyonce, Chris Martin, and Bruno Mars sparked controversy when Beyonce's set included backing dancers dressed as members of the Black Panthers, a militant organisation that fought for black rights in the US from the 1960s to the 1980s. Some critics described the show as a 'slap in the face' to US police and law enforcement.
Advertisers pay up to $5 million (£3.8 million) for a 30-second slot during the half-time show. According to Nielsen, this year's game at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California, was the third most-watched programme in US television history, with an average audience of 111.9 million and a peak of 115.5 million during the half-time show.
