The controversy surrounding the protests started by former San Francisco 49ers Quarterback Colin Kaepernick has made its way into the virtual realm. A new video which currently has more than 20,000 views on Twitter shows the home screen for the new NFL game with YG’s new single “Big Bank” playing.
In the song, Big Sean raps, “You boys all cap I’m more Colin Kaepernick,” but in Madden’s version, the GQ Citizen of the Year’s name is muted on the track. The “E” rated Madden typically mutes lyrics that involve profanity, race, political opinions or controversial topics, none of which has to do with the use of Kaepernick’s name. This video was also picked up by Bleacher Report who reposted the video.
Kaepernick and his form of protest have been politicized by President Trump and others in regard to the National Anthem protest that started as a way to create awareness of police brutality, a fact that has been consistently ignored by Trump.
“You boys all cap, I'm more Colin Kaepernick”
Wait, did Madden bleep out Kap?
(via @jeanclervil) pic.twitter.com/mzQ6u0QpNb
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) August 2, 2018
Whether or not the NFL had anything to do with this censorship is unknown. The league recently decided to punish any player who kneels during the National Anthem with a fine, a rule that has since been reversed after teams like the Miami Dolphins decided to potentially impose suspensions for protesting players.
The decision as to why Kaep’s name was edited out of Big Sean’s verse is unknown at the time. Kaepernick is currently an NFL free agent who is suing the NFL for what he believes was a colluded effort to blackball him from being picked up by an NFL team.
Kaepernick began demonstrating against police brutality around this time in 2016 in what was his last season with the San Francisco 49ers. Since then, the 30-year-old athlete has extended his advocacy into the world donating millions of dollars to social programs in minority communities and elsewhere.