It was announced at that Grammy Award-winning US musician Macklemore would be headlining the half-time show at the NRL Grand Final this weekend.
Obviously, the singer would be expected to play his biggest hits - which includes his 2013 #1 hit, 'Same Love', a hugely popular track that advocates for the equality of LGBTQIA+ people. It was recorded in 2012, in the lead up to the United States legalising same-sex marriage.
Since the announcement, Australia has become embroiled in a national debate over the legalisation of same-sex marriage, and so, many 'No' voters are unhappy that Macklemore is singing a song that is pro-LGBTQIA+ and pro-same-sex marriage at the Grand Final.
This includes former Prime Minister Tony Abbott, , "Footy fans shouldn't be subjected to a politicised grand final. Sport is sport!".
A petition asking for the "removal of LGBTIQ politics out of the awesome sport of Rugby League" has also been created by former NRL player Tony Wall.
The petition, which has been backed by the Coalition for Marriage, reads, "It will be very difficult to watch the NRL Grand Final with my wife and five young children as the event will be heavily politicised with a LGBTIQ anthem taking centre stage."
While Macklemore has already ("I’m gonna go harder, I'm going to love”), 'Yes' voters have spent their time making jokes about the furore on Twitter.
Others brought up the strangeness of the situation, particularly seeing on ABC TV:
Others wanted the backlash to stop - for a variety of reasons:
