Top 3 Super Bowl Halftime Controversies

The Super Bowl is a sports event that happens almost yearly like clockwork. It is considered an American tradition. It also happens to be the time when people spend the most on food like chips, wings, cracker charcuterie party trays, and tons and tons of alcoholic beverages that will destroy your liver.

Don’t be surprised if you see a fight at Costco for the last rotisserie chicken or a big football-shaped cookie cake. Or in your own home as people hold huge watching parties that 8 times out of 10 end in arguments over wrong calls and turn into a 6v2 fight after the opposing team scores.

Even though this event can be known for many outrageous things, let’s be real. It’s known for its halftime show. Half of the viewers are only there to see their favorite artist perform for a good 12 minutes and then gtfo.

The Super Bowl has been going on for 57 years and with that there have been a lot of halftime shows, some good and some bad. We’re here for the notorious and controversial moments. Here are three major events!

M.I.A Middle Finger Mayhem

The Super Bowl XLVI halftime show featuring Madonna in 2012 drew attention and controversy due to an unexpected moment from M.I.A. During a performance of Madonna’s hit song “Give Me All Your Luvin’,” British rapper M.I.A. raised her middle finger and flipped the camera off, which was caught on live television.

Even though it was for only a second, the incident sparked a wave of discussions about the appropriateness of such actions during a family-friendly event like the Super Bowl. The NFL sued her for 16.6 million dollars for breach of contract and damages.

The NFL and NBC, which broadcasted the game, faced criticism, leading to increased scrutiny over future halftime shows and the need for better vetting of performers

Beyoncé Formation Fiasco

The halftime show of Super Bowl 50 in 2016, starting performances from Coldplay, Bruno Mars, and Beyoncé, sparked a whirlwind of debate due to its politically infused undertones.

Beyoncé’s performance was centered around her then-newly released song “Formation,” a song from her then-unreleased album Lemonade, whose lyrics reflect modern social and political themes, tackling matters such as racial inequality and the issue of police misconduct and brutality. The performers’ choice to dress in outfits inspired by the Black Panther Party and their use of symbolic gestures sparked a fiery and heated conversation about the suitability of blending sports with activism.

Fans and supporters of Beyoncé praised her for using her huge influential platform to shed light on significant societal issues. However, critics claimed that the Super Bowl halftime show was not a fitting stage for such a politically charged performance.

This occurrence ignited more focused discussion and conversation about when the lines of entertainment, activism, and large-scale sporting events cross together.

Janet and Justin: The Catastrophe!

The Super Bowl XXXVIII halftime show 2004 became instantly infamous and memorable for the controversy surrounding Janet Jackson and Justin Timberlake’s performance.

In the final moments of their performance, Timberlake accidentally exposed Jackson’s breast, revealing a nipple adorned with a nipple shield. This incident later referred to as “Nipplegate,” triggered widespread public outcry and debates about decency on television. The controversy led to increased censorship measures for television, fines, and a significant impact on both artists’ careers.

The FCC received numerous complaints, and the incident prompted a reevaluation of live broadcasts, ushering in a new era of caution, scrutiny, and censorship over Super Bowl halftime performances and television for the future.

Amid all these incidents, the Super Bowl remains the most-watched sporting event yearly, but there are many questions about it still. Is this year’s halftime show going to be “the best”? Is it going to push more boundaries? All we know is that there is a better question: what is Usher going to add to the pot?

I guess we will know when we watch it this Sunday!