Who are the American sign language interpreters who will perform at the 2022 Super Bowl? The Super Bowl Halftime Show will make history this year as it includes ASL interpreters for the first time ever.
Deaf rappers Sean Forbes and Warren Snipe will share the stage with Halftime Show headliners Dr. Dre, Eminem, Snoop Dogg, Mary J. Blige and Kendrick Lamar when they take over SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles on Super Bowl Sunday (Feb. 13).
While this marks the first time that the Super Bowl will bring out deaf entertainers during the Halftime Show, many deaf talents have interpreted via ASL at the Super Bowl during renditions of the National Anthem in previous years.
Newsweek notes that Sandra Mae Frank will sign both the anthem and “America the Beautiful” at this year’s event.
However, this marks the first time that the much-watched game will bring dip-hop (a term for “hip-hop embodied by deaf artists,” according to Fast Company) to the main stage.
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While Forbes and Snipe will be signing the performance, they are not solely acting as interpreters. Howard Rosenblum, CEO of the National Association of the Deaf, stressed that they are very much entertainers in their own right.
“Their goal is to make music accessible and visually appealing in ASL while synchronized with the musical performance as it happens,” he told Fast Company.
Fans will be able to follow along on NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app.
You can get better acquainted with both historic performers below!
Who Is Sean Forbes?
Sean Forbes has more in common with Eminem than just a Super Bowl Halftime Show performance slot: Both hail from Detroit.
The 40-year-old seemingly has shared a connection with the rap titan over the years.
According to the Detroit Free Press, Forbes showed Eminem a video of himself performing “Lose Yourself” back in 2005.
Partly because of their history, he described the Super Bowl gig as “very much a full-circle moment” in an interview with the publication.
Forbes will reportedly be involved with Eminem and Snoop Dogg’s portions of the show.
He has a very clear goal in mind for his time onstage: “My goal is to get out there, show what we can do, and have fun,” Forbes said. “And I want to open the door for other deaf performers.”
Of course, his work extends beyond the Halftime Show.
Forbes has a music career of his own and was signed to Web Entertainment in 2010, according to TODAY.
More recently, he independently released an EP called Little Victories in 2020. You can check out his artist page on Spotify to give it a listen.
The artist also helped launch an organization called the Deaf Performing Arts Network, or DPAN for short. …….
Source: https://popcrush.com/sean-forbes-warren-snipe-deaf-rappers-asl-super-bowl-halftime-show/