More than 40,000 people signed a petition uring Maroon 5 to back out of performing in the Super Bowl halftime show in solidarity with former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick.

The petition, which was launched earlier this month on Change.org, had gained about 41,500 signatures as of Thursday afternoon.

ADVERTISEMENT

"Kaepernick risked his career to take a knee for equality, and the NFL punished him for it," the petition reads. "Until the league changes their policy and support players’ constitutional right to protest, no artists should agree to work with the NFL.

"Join me in asking Maroon 5 to drop out of the 2019 Super Bowl halftime show."

Kaepernick became the first player to kneel during the national anthem in 2016 to protest police brutality and racial injustice.

He quickly became a controversial figure over the protest, and has yet to sign with an NFL team since the 49ers released him following the 2016-2017 season.

Kaepernick filed a grievance against the NFL alleging that the owners colluded to keep him out the league. An arbitrator ruled that his case will go to trial earlier this year.

Hip Hop artist Rihanna reportedly rejected an offer to headline the NFL’s Super Bowl halftime show in October.

“Rihanna was the front-runner for next year’s super bowl halftime show," a source told Entertainment Tonight. "CBS and the NFL reached out to Rihanna first, who after thinking about the offer, decided to pass due to the NFL and the situation regarding players kneeling."

Variety reported in September that Maroon 5 had agreed to perform during the Super Bowl's halftime show.