Marlee Matlin, her voice ringing with indignation, took to social media to lambast CBS for their questionable coverage of the Super Bowl LVIII pregame show. She exclaimed, "I am profoundly astonished that @CBS introduced Deaf performers at today's pregame #SuperBowl, yet failed to showcase even a fleeting glimpse of their remarkable talents, a tradition upheld for over three decades. What is the rationale behind this?"
The Oscar-adorned actress was referring to the trio of captivating pregame performances, where Post Malone crooned "America the Beautiful," Andra Day lifted hearts with "Lift Every Voice and Sing," and Reba McEntire rendered the national anthem with fervor. Amongst these, there were also American Sign Language (ASL) interpretations, a testament to inclusivity and diversity.
Shaheem Sanchez, an actor-choreographer representing the National Association of the Deaf, gracefully enacted "Lift Every Voice and Sing" in ASL. Anjel Piñero, a versatile actress, model, and dancer, captivated with "America the Beautiful" in sign language. Daniel Durant, a CODA actor, signed the national anthem with profound reverence.
Yet, Matlin noticed with dismay that during the live broadcast, only a fleeting glimpse of Sanchez was showcased during "Lift Every Voice and Sing." The captivating performances of Piñero and Durant were left unseen by the masses.
In a bid to salvage the situation, CBS Sports launched a dedicated webpage, streaming the ASL performers' performances live during the preshow. They also announced this on social media platforms. Furthermore, they intend to replicate this strategy for Usher's halftime show. A source revealed to The Hollywood Reporter that this approach aligns with CBS's pregame coverage in previous years.
Matlin herself is a veteran of the Super Bowl stage, having graced it in 1993 alongside Garth Brooks, when she rendered the national anthem at Super Bowl XXVII. Her disappointment in CBS's handling of this year's ASL performances was palpable in her scathing social media post.
