Moments before Super Bowl LV began Sunday night, President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden made a pre-recorded appearance to honor the more than 463,000 people who died of COVID-19 by asking for a moment of silence – in instead they were yelled at by the crowd.
‘Before the kick-off, we wanted to thank all the heroes of healthcare in the front line, both at the match and in the country. You’re in danger of keeping the rest of us safe. You and your families have carried us through this year with courage, compassion and kindness. We would not be able to do it without you. Thank you very much.
The president said: ‘Now, as we thank you and all our vital workers, let us remember that we can all do our part to save lives. Wear masks, stay social, get tested, get vaccinated when it’s your turn, and let’s especially think of everyone we’ve lost.
“So please join us, the Kansas City Chiefs, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the National Football League in a moment of silence for the more than 440,000 Americans who lost their lives in this pandemic and for their loved ones who are left behind.”
Instead of a moment of silence, audience fans were heard in the crowd.
The anger angered many Americans who watched at home and watched Twitter.
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Moments before Super Bowl LV begins Sunday night, President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden made a pre-recorded appearance to honor the more than 463,000 people who died of COVID-19 by asking for a moment of silence
Instead of a moment of silence, audience fans were heard in the crowd bowing to the screen
“It does not sound like a moment of silence,” tweeted one person.
Another tweeted, ‘Was that a boo I heard from the crowd when Biden asked us to lose a moment of silence for +400K lost due to the COVID 19? Wow. It speaks volumes. ‘
“It was the hardest moment of silence ever,” wrote a third user.
“Well, it was an interesting ‘moment of silence,'” another Twitter user wrote.
Some call it the ‘loudest’ and ‘shortest’ moment of silence they have ever heard.
“The 20,000+ people at the super-bowl who do not consider the moment of silence for lives lost on COVID somehow make sense,” one person shared.
The lack of silence has forced some Americans watching from home to respond to Twitter on the incident
While the Bidens were praised by some for showing their appreciation for health care and essential workers, others defended the crowd.
Some claim that the crowd at the Bidens is buzzing and not the moment of silence.
About 22,000 people attended the Super Bowl on Sunday, with 7,500 health workers watching Tom Brady receive his seventh Super Bowl victory over Kansas City star quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
The Super Bowl took place when the country saw a dramatic drop in new virus cases – a sign that the infection peak of holiday gatherings is declining.
The virus has killed more than 463,000 people in the U.S., but according to data from Johns Hopkins University, the seven-day average for daily new cases rose from 180,489 to 125,854 per Friday.
And although only a limited number of participants in the Super Bowl have been admitted, health officials fear that the game could cause new business at exactly the wrong time.
Just this week, the new coronavirus strain that is spreading rapidly in the UK was confirmed in Kansas after it appeared in several other states.
Other highly contagious variants also worry scientists. States are being vaccinated before the newcomers become widespread and additional tribes emerge.
‘I’m honestly worried about Super Bowl Sunday. People get together, they watch games together. We have already seen outbreaks of football parties, ‘said Rochelle Walensky, head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
“So I really think we need to look at this and be careful.”
Before the game on Sunday, Tampa Mayor Jane Castor introduced a ordinance requiring masks to be worn outdoors at several popular gathering places. The order states that offenders can be fined $ 500 as a ‘last resort’.
Another ordinance required masks at any indoor location when social distance was not possible. This will include many bars and restaurants, but not private residences.
The city donated 150,000 masks that officials handed out to anyone who needed one before the Super Bowl.