Lindsey Stirling’s Halftime Show: NBC Faces Backlash for Brief Coverage
Lindsey Stirling wrapped up the Thanksgiving NFL halftime entertainment at the Green Bay Packers versus Miami Dolphins game.
Viewers at home were left disappointed as they hardly got to see the incredible violinist and dancer perform.
Instead of airing Stirling’s halftime show on Thursday evening, NBC opted to feature a segment about Dolphins fullback Alec Ingold, highlighting his background as a native of Green Bay and his adoption story ahead of the game.
After a commercial break, NBC aired only a brief clip of Stirling’s performance, which lasted just a few seconds before cutting to another commercial as they geared up for the second half.
Fans of the NFL and lovers of entertainment were understandably frustrated and puzzled by the lack of coverage for the former “America’s Got Talent” star. In contrast, NBC’s competitors aired full halftime performances during their Thanksgiving broadcasts—CBS showcased the entire concert by Shaboozey for the Detroit Lions, and Fox did the same with Lainey Wilson for the Dallas Cowboys.
As a result, many took to social media to express their dissatisfaction with NBC:
Neither NBC nor Stirling have addressed the limited airing of the halftime show. Before the game, Stirling shared her excitement on social media about performing at her first NFL halftime event.
This incident is not unprecedented for NBC; last Thanksgiving, the network also minimized coverage of Steve Aoki’s halftime show during the game between the San Francisco 49ers and the Seattle Seahawks, showing it for just a few seconds.