The Jonas Brothers' halftime show at the historic first-ever regular-season NFL game in Australia was nearly derailed when singer Joe Jonas missed a fan event due to significant flight delays.
Joe Jonas, 37, was absent from a fan meet-and-greet at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on Thursday, where his brothers Nick and Kevin Jonas appeared. A video message from Joe explained his flight to Melbourne had been delayed, with the singer stating he was in Dubai after experiencing disruptions originating in London. He cited a radar issue that led to multiple flight delays and cancellations, expecting to depart at 2:45 a.m. local time.
His brothers confirmed that Joe intended to be present for the fan event but would arrive in time for the NFL halftime show on Friday morning. The game itself, between the San Francisco 49ers and the Los Angeles Rams, marked the NFL's debut in Australia for a regular-season match.
The halftime performance by the Jonas Brothers drew mixed reactions from NFL fans. Some viewers expressed discontent, humorously linking the band's performance to new NFL rules designed to protect quarterbacks. Others were more direct in their criticism, with comments on social media platform X suggesting the performance was inappropriate for a regular-season game and questioned the choice of musical act. One user described the decision to have the Jonas Brothers perform in Australia as a "war crime."
However, not all attendees reacted negatively. Some fans expressed excitement for the performance, with one user on X stating they were "in HEAVEN" during the halftime show. The band performed five songs, including hits such as "Burnin' Up" and "Sucker." Merchandise, including a t-shirt and hoodie, was also noted, though pricing and currency were unclear.
