NFL’s “2022 Super Bowl LVI” Sparks Debate On K-Pop Fan Vs. Sports Fan Regarding Mask Compliance

“With us they didn’t even need to tell us twice. But we are the ‘rabid crazy fans?'”

One of the biggest events on Earth happened on Sunday, but not without controversy.

On Sunday, the world’s largest sports league, The National Football League (NFL), hosted the 2022 Super Bowl LVI. The Super Bowl is one of the biggest events in the world as it’s the annual playoff championship for “the best” NFL teams. So, on February 13, the Cincinnati Bengals played against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, California.

Matthew Stafford (left) and Joe Burrow (right). | New York Post

It’s brought about two different controversies among K-Pop fans, especially among ARMYs (BTS fans).

ARMYs at BTS’s “PERMISSION TO DANCE ON STAGE” concert in L.A. | @MrsTOH20/Twitter

ABC7 Eyewitness News, the local news for Southern California, reported over the weekend that while 2022 Super Bowl LVI would not limit fans or necessarily enforce social distancing, certain COVID-19 precautions would be taken. Throughout the season, there have been multiple precautions in effect, such as UVC lighting to sanitize the field, touchless hand sanitizing stations, electrostatic spraying to disinfect surfaces, but not necessarily wearing masks for fans.

| NFL

Of course, considering COVID-19 has been at an all-time high in the United States, many questioned if it was wise even to host such a large event. Yet, the event was held almost as normally as any year before.

Still, the NFL attempted to do its part in ensuring everyone’s safety by encouraging everyone to at least wear masks, especially since it’s currently required in L.A. to wear face coverings. So, KN95 masks were given out.

The lax adherence to the mandate led one county supervisor, Kathryn Barger, to suggest that the mask rule be rescinded, since it apparently wasn’t being followed anyway.

But the mask rule will remain in effect for the Super Bowl, and stadium officials insisted they will enforce it. The rule requires masks at all times, except when ‘actively’ eating or drinking.

‘That doesn’t mean you buy a bucket of popcorn and eat it for two hours. Actively eating and drinking,” Russ Simons, senior vice president for campus and facility operations for SoFi Stadium, said earlier. ‘We’re on to you.’

As was the case during all games at the facility this season, all attendees will also have to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination or a recent negative test to enter SoFi Stadium.

John Barker, head of live event operations and production for the NFL, said the league has been preparing for Super Bowls during COVID-19 for nearly two years, and it is ‘extremely confident in the plans we have in place.’

— ABC7 Eyewitness News

When ABC7 Eyewitness News shared the report to Twitter, they raised the question of whether or not sports fans would actually obey the rules regarding masks. Despite being given KN95s, would Super Bowl attendees actually wear them?

| @ABC7/Twitter

This sparked a debate in the comment section from ARMYs. They recognized the stark differences between the 2022 Super Bowl LVI and BTS’s PERMISSION TO DANCE ON STAGE concerts despite both being at SoFi Stadium.

| @ProbablyBTS/Twitter

Masks were not officially given out for free to everyone attending PERMISSION TO DANCE ON STAGE. Instead, some ARMYs were kind enough to give out purple masks that they purchased themselves to fellow fans.

| Twitter

ARMYs pointed out that despite that all of BTS’s shows were sold out and crowded, just as the Super Bowl, there were no concerns at all on whether or not anyone would wear a mask.

| @LeslieDBowden/Twitter

SoFi Stadium staff were pleasantly surprised by ARMYs’ compliance to COVID-19 safety precautions, such as wearing masks. One security reportedly even told an ARMY that they were “the most respectful group” they’ve seen while working.

On the other hand, now that the Super Bowl has passed, we have seen results on whether those followed the rules or not. Eye-witnesses reported that they did not see “one person … wearing a mask.” 

Viewers at home also noticed that the majority were not wearing masks. This included NFL fans, celebrities, and politicians.

ARMYs are pointing out the double standard of rhetoric for sports fans and K-Pop fans. Fans of K-Pop are often stereotyped and labeled as “crazy” or “rabid” fans, while fans of sports are simply referred to as “passionate.”

| @MrsTOH20/Twitter

ARMYs are also bringing up that the respectfulness and mask compliance of those in attendance of BTS’s PERMISSION TO DANCE ON STAGE was covered by news stations little to none. Instead, media tends to prefer to focus on negative than positive.

| @MrsTOH20/Twitter

While many suspect that a large event of 50K in attendance can be a COVID-19 spreader event, there have been no signs to indicate that PERMISSION TO DANCE ON STAGE ever contributed to an increase of cases. However, many are concerned about the Super Bowl, considering the lack of mask compliance. This doesn’t even include at-home gatherings.

The second controversy of the 2022 Super Bowl LVI was whether or not BTS was “snubbed” after there were reports that an ad featuring the group would be included during a commercial break. Read about it below:

BTS Was Supposed To Make History At NFL’s “2022 Super Bowl LVI” This Year But Instead Got Snubbed

Source: ABC7 Eyewitness News

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