NBC criticized for cutting short Lindsey Stirling Thanksgiving halftime performance

NBC faced backlash after it aired only a brief clip of Lindsey Stirling’s halftime performance during the Green Bay Packers vs. Miami Dolphins game on Thanksgiving. The renowned violinist and dancer, who was excited to make her NFL halftime debut, was barely visible to viewers, as the network chose to broadcast a segment about Dolphins fullback Alec Ingold instead.

Instead of showcasing Stirling’s performance in full, NBC aired a feature about Ingold’s background, focusing on his roots in Green Bay and his emotional return to his hometown. After a commercial break, the network briefly highlighted Stirling’s show in a few seconds of footage, before cutting to another commercial to prepare for the second half of the game.

This decision to cut away from the performance left many fans frustrated. NFL viewers on social media expressed their disappointment, especially since NBC’s competitors, CBS and Fox, fully aired their halftime shows. CBS broadcast Shaboozey’s performance during the Detroit Lions’ game, while Fox featured Lainey Wilson during the Dallas Cowboys’ game.

Fans quickly took to social media to voice their discontent with NBC’s handling of the halftime entertainment. Neither NBC nor Stirling have issued any official comments on the matter. Stirling, who gained national attention on America’s Got Talent, had shared her excitement on social media ahead of her first NFL halftime performance.

This incident follows a similar issue from 2023, when NBC only aired a few seconds of Steve Aoki’s performance during the San Francisco 49ers vs. Seattle Seahawks game.