National Football League (NFL) fans joked on social media on Thursday that country singer and rapper Shaboozey was on the field for his half-time performance longer than the Chicago Bears would have the ball during its Thanksgiving Day game against the Detroit Lions.
As is tradition, the Detroit Lions hosted a game this Thanksgiving, which they won against the Chicago Bears 23 to 20. The Lions' strong early lead in the game helped secure their victory as they took a commanding 16-0 lead over the Bears during the first half of the game and then it was time for Shaboozey to perform.
Shaboozey, born Collins Obinna Chibueze, is an up-and-coming artist who first gained attention for his and artist Duckwrth's 2018 song "Start a Riot," which was on the soundtrack to Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. This year, he collaborated with Beyoncé on two tracks for her country album Cowboy Carter, and his own country single "A Bar Song (Tipsy)" spent 19 weeks at the top of the Billboard Hot 100.
The artist sang two songs during halftime, starting with "Last of My Kind," a track from his album Where I've Been, Isn't Where I'm Going that features Paul Cauthen and ending with "A Bar Song (Tipsy)."
Jonathan Jones, a senior NFL reporter and insider for CBS Sports, jokingly wrote on X, formerly Twitter, on Thursday afternoon, "Shaboozey is going to be on the field longer than the Bears offense."
Matt Zahn, a sports reporter and anchor for CBS Chicago, replied to Jones' post, writing on Thursday afternoon, "It was close, but go Bears! Bears 1st half time of possesion: 7:06. Shaboozey (unofficial) time on field: 6:26."
Overall, football fans seemed to enjoy Shaboozey's performance.
Brad Galli, sports director at WXYZ 7 News Detroit, wrote, "Shaboozey rocked the halftime show at Ford Field. The Lions scored a great performer and did it big on Thanksgiving."
"This @ShaboozeysJeans Shaboozey Halfitme show is the BEST HALFTIME SHOW that the Lions has ever had!!1" the World Champion Network, an NFL news website, posted.
Newsweek reached out to Shaboozey's public relations representatives via online form for comment Thursday afternoon.
Meanwhile, some thought that Shaboozey outperformed rapper Jack Harlow, who performed the half-time show at the Lions' 2023 Thanksgiving Day game.
MLFootball, a fantasy football platform, wrote, "SHABOOZEY >>> JACK HARLOW."
"Shaboozey is already better than Jack Harlow. Big Shaboozey guy here," Fox 26 Houston sports director Will Kunkel wrote.
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