Spongebob Squarepants looks set to make a surprise appearance during the Super Bowl half-time show, it has been revealed.
A petition signed by 1.2 million people, started following the death of SpongeBob creator Stephen Hillenberg, called on Maroon 5 to incorporate the iconic song “Sweet Victory” into their set – a nod to a famous scene from the animated children’s show which sees the eponymous sponge perform at the Super Bowl
The band has seemingly given into demands, as images of Spongebob were glimpsed during preparations for the show.
The Mercedes Benz Stadium had previously hinted that the character may make an appearance, posting a GIF of Spongebob on social media late last year. Maroon 5 also briefly used an image of Spongebob in a promotional video.
Pictures of Spongebob’s half-time appearance have been unveiled on Twitter, which you can see below.
The move comes after Maroon 5 cancelled their scheduled press conference to promote the show.
Numerous acts, including Cardi B and Rihanna, have spoken about pulling out of the half-time show in protest against the NFL for their treatment of Colin Kaepernick. Other artists, including Pink Floyd’s Roger Waters, have called on Maroon 5 to cancel their show altogether.
The Super Bowl takes place tonight (3 February) in the US.
