Adam Levine promises a Super Bowl half-time show 'message' after backlash from critics who said Maroon 5 shouldn't perform at game in solidarity with Colin Kaepernick

Maroon 5 front man Adam Levine has responded to critics who urged the band to show solidarity with Colin Kaepernick by not to performing at Super Bowl LIII, with the singer hinting that the halftime show will include a social message.  
'I'm not in the right profession if I can't handle a little bit of controversy. It is what it is, we expected it,' Levine said in an interview on Thursday with Entertainment Tonight, three days ahead of the big game in Atlanta.

'We'd like to move on with it, and like I said earlier, speak though the music,' Levine said of the band's plans for Sunday's championship game between the New England Patriots and Los Angeles Rams.

Maroon 5 came under scrutiny when a petition signed by more than 113,000 fans demanded that they withdraw from performing at the Super Bowl to support Kaepernick and other players who kneel during the national anthem.

The radio-friendly light songs of Maroon 5, pictured in February 2017, made the band seem like a safe choice for the Super Bowl halftime show

But Maroon 5 has come under fire from supporters of Colin Kaepernick (center), who think the band should boycott the Super Bowl until the quarterback is given a new job

The singer delivered a reassuring message to Kaepernick's supporters, saying: 'They will be [heard] - that's all I want to say because I don't want to spoil anything.' 

'To make people understand, we got you,' he said. 'We got you.' 

It followed the surprising word that Maroon 5 would not participate in a pre-game press conference on Wednesday as is traditional - though Levine insisted in the interview that the NFL had canceled the press conference, and would not comment further. 

Levine said that he had done deep soul searching before accepting the halftime gig, which other artists, including Rihanna and Pink, had reportedly turned down in solidarity with Kaepernick.

ET's Kevin Frazier asked Levine whether the controversy had affected how the band will approach the performance. 

Levine replied: 'I could say yes and no, because honestly I think that being in a band and being an artist and publicly appearing and performing, you have to take into account all of the things that are surrounding you, so in that way it's no different from any other concert.'

The stage is set for Super Bowl LIII and Maroon 5's controversial halftime show at Mercedes Benz Stadium (seen above) in Atlanta on Sunday 

Adam Levine of Maroon 5 performs in November. He has promised that the band hears its critics and hinted that the halftime performance will include some kind of social message

Despite the controversy, Levine insisted that he looked forward to performing at the game on Sunday. 

'Literally I've never been more exited in my entire life to present this to the people, because I believe it's truly a reflection of all of us,' he said. 

Maroon 5 will be joined by Atlanta-based rapper Big Boi and Travis Scott during the halftime performance. Gladys Knight will sing the national anthem. 

Levine boasted that the show would include the 'biggest hip hop presence that there's ever been.'

Maroon 5's decision to perform followed a slew of artists saying that they would decline the gig, in solidarity with Kaepernick, who has sued the league after no team hired him when he opted out of his contract with the San Francisco 49ers in 2017.

Kaepernick famously began kneeling during the national anthem before games to protest what he called police brutality and racial discrimination. 

At a press conference on Wednesday, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell denied that teams had colluded in any way to deny Kaepernick a job.

'Our clubs are the ones that make decisions on players they want to have on their roster. They make that decision individually in the best interests of their team,' he said. 

Kaepernick, seen in a Nike commercial, sued the NFL after no team hired him when he opted out of his contract with the San Francisco 49ers in 2017

At a press conference on Wednesday, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell (above) denied that teams had colluded in any way to deny Kaepernick a job

Jay-Z alluded to his feelings in a recent song that he declined to perform at the Super Bowl, and Amy Schumer refused to appear in a TV ad during the game.

Cardi B said she won't take the Super Bowl halftime stage until Kaepernick gets a job, but she will perform at a downtown Atlanta concert next week.

Perhaps in response to the backlash, Maroon 5 on Tuesday announced a joint charity donation with Interscope Records and the NFL of $500,000 to Big Brothers Big Sisters of America.

In a recent interview with The Associated Press, PJ Morton, Maroon 5's keyboardist, said he felt the heat of his band's decision to perform at the Super Bowl.

'This is definitely a controversial year, but it's something I've wanted to do my whole life. As musician it's the biggest stage you could ever play,' he said.

'Our job as musicians is to provide a service and make people feel good, and I think that's going to be our mission - just to have a good time and do what we do,' he added. 'I'm excited to play on that stage, man. I watched halftime shows my whole life. I want to be there.'