Beyonce and Jay-Z were spotted sitting down during the Super Bowl's national anthem despite the rapper defending his controversial partnership with the NFL over with Colin Kaepernick kneeling saga.

The superstars and their daughter Blue Ivy were filmed remaining in their seats as Demi Lovato took to the field to sing the national anthem ahead of kick-off between San Francisco 49ers and Kansas City Chiefs in Miami on Sunday.

Instead of standing, Beyonce could be seen in her chair bopping to Lovato's performance while others around her were on their feet.

It is not yet clear why the couple decided to remain in their seats, especially since Jay-Z signed his lucrative partnership with the NFL.

Beyonce and Jay-Z remained seated while Demi Lovato performed the national anthem at Super Bowl LIV in Miami on Sunday

Representatives for Jay-Z and Beyoncé didn't immediately reply to emails seeking comment.

Jay-Z, a co-producer of the halftime show featuring Shakira and Jennifer Lopez, announced his Roc Nation company had entered a partnership with the NFL for events and social activism last year.

The rapper received immediate backlash since he had become one of the biggest supporters of Colin Kaepernick, who sparked a fissure in the NFL when he decided to kneel when the national anthem was played before games to protest the killings of blacks by police officers.

Jay-Z's response at that time was that he still supports protesting, kneeling and Kaepernick, but he's also interested in working with the league to make substantial changes.

His Roc Nation deal, which was signed in August, allows Jay-Z to help select artists for major NFL performances such as at the Super Bowl and play a role in the NFL's Inspire Change initiative.

Was it a protest? It's not known why the superstar couple remained seated during the national anthem, especially as Jay-Z has a lucrative partnership with the NFL

The couple's eight-year-old daughter Blue Ivy was with them in the VIP section and took photos and videos with her phone during the anthem

Jay-Z's Roc Nation signed an agreement with the NFL last August and he's been criticized for betraying Colin Kaepernick and his Black Lives Matter protest, pictured 2016

This year's super Bowl halftime performers Jennifer Lopez and Shakira are both clients of Roc Nation.

Defending himself against accusations he was betraying Colin Kaepernick's Black Lives Matter 'take a knee' protest by partnering with the NFL, Jay-Z commented last August: 'I think we're past kneeling'.

For those supporting Kaepernick, Jay-Z's deal raised eyebrows with some seeing it as a betrayal of Kaepernick's Black Lives Matter protest.

In 2016, the football pro started kneeling during the national anthem to call attention to racial injustice and police brutality.

The former San Francisco 49ers quarterback has not played in the NFL since becoming a free agent in 2017 and has argued he's been effectively exiled from the league.

Kaepernick appeared to let his feelings be known via an Instagram story on Sunday referencing Jay-Z's comment about moving past the kneeling.

He shared a news story about Jay-Z and Beyonce not standing and wrote: 'I thought we were past kneeling though?'

The reaction to the couple not standing was mixed with some suggesting it was a gesture of support towards Kaepernick. Others were quick to slam Beyonce and Jay-Z was being 'disrespectful'.

It came a day after Jay-Z defended his partnership with the NFL, denying it was betrayal of Kaepernick.

'No one is saying he hasn't been done wrong,' Jay-Z told the New York Times in an interview published Saturday.

'He was done wrong. I would understand if it was three months ago. But it was three years ago and someone needs to say, 'What do we do now -because people are still dying?''

'We are two adult men who disagree on the tactic but are marching for the same cause.'

Regarding the negative press the deal attracted, Jay-Z said: 'As long as real people are being hurt and marginalized and losing family members, then yes, I can take a couple rounds of negative press.'

Beyonce and Jay-Z enjoyed prime seats for the game between the San Francisco 49ers and the Kansas City Chiefs at the Hard Rock Stadium

Blue Ivy had a great time walking on the field before kick off

The Lemonade hitmaker shared photos of her outfit on Instagram, going bra-less under a green belted jacket and wearing a stunning diamond choker