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The Super Bowl Halftime Show seemed to get as many people talking about it as about the game itself. And opinions were definitely mixed.
Many cheered on the vibrant, hit-filled show, co-headlined by multi-platinum-selling superstars Jennifer Lopez and Shakira, but others took issue with the sexually-charged nature of the show, which featured performers in scantily clad outfits, crotch grabbing and even a stripper pole.
“To some, the show was a joyful, Miami-infused explosion of dance and high-energy music that got you out of your seat — and not just for another fistful of nachos, either,” Gil Smart wrote in an USA Today opinion piece. “To others, it looked a lot like soft-core porn.”
The article goes on to say that the NFL should have had a “parental warning” for the show.
“But if the Super Bowl is going to be touted as family entertainment, or at least not marketed as adult entertainment,” Smart wrote, “perhaps the NFL has an obligation to warn people with children that what they’re about to see may be upsetting to some viewers.
Warnings before programs containing violence or other themes that might trigger susceptible viewers are commonplace these days, so why not spectacles such as this halftime show?
"The NFL has an obligation to warn people with children that what they're about to see may be upsetting to some viewers," @usatodayopinion contributor Gil Smart writes. #halftimeshow #superbowlhttps://t.co/ToDUzY6MQD
— USA TODAY (@USATODAY) February 3, 2020
Others took issue online with the performance as well.
On the day of the highest rate of sex trafficking, the NFL says, “Hey, let’s have two women dance half naked and get a bunch of zoomed in crotch shots of them. That’s female empowerment!” Do they have no clue that they just contributed to the commodification of women? #SuperBowl
— Dr. Abby Johnson (@AbbyJohnson) February 3, 2020
https://twitter.com/Lets_Skoal/status/1224141901017665536
https://twitter.com/jasondancisin/status/1224142707926409216
Not every parent in America — or in the many other countries where the Super Bowl is shown — was cool with having their children watch J.Lo twirl about on a stripper pole, but others chalked it up as a nod to Lopez’ recent smash, “Hustlers,” and perhaps even as a rebuke to the Oscar voters for ignoring what many saw as an award-worthy performance by her.
The response to this paper’s coverage of the Halftime Show drew a number of emails and comments saying that the performance was not suitable for the occasion. (You can read some of the comments, as well as the original article, here.)
#SuperBowlHalftimeShow @JLo @shakira rock Miami https://t.co/nKG4OJ70Yu
— Jim Harrington (@jimthecritic) February 3, 2020
Many people disagreed with the USA Today opinion piece that the Halftime Show was inappropriate for the Super Bowl.
https://twitter.com/DaisySn47679787/status/1224390934886060032
Exercise your right to change the channel, then? Just as soon as it crosses a line for you.
Then, maybe discuss with your kids what you think is wrong with it? Educate instead of isolate.
Or, maybe they're so young it was meaningless to them until you made it an issue?
— Kinosminion (@kinosminion) February 3, 2020
And there were a number of people noting that this was hardly the first time that the NFL featured scantly clad women at its games.
For everyone freaking out over the scant outfits worn by J Lo and Shakira last night: here is how cheerleaders dress, I'm sorry you've never seen them before. pic.twitter.com/DpaIsT0RYE
— Jennifer Wright (@JenAshleyWright) February 3, 2020
What did you think? Was the performance inappropriate? Vote below.
