The Weekend’s Super Bowl Performance during the halftime show left me angry and disappointed on multiple levels, and it should have done the same to you.

2020 Halftime Show

Last year Jennifer Lopez and Shakira took to the halftime stage in a history-making performance. It was the first all Latin lineup in the event’s history.  Two strong women, icons in the music field, and role models to girls all over the world.  They put on a fantastic show, certainly one of the best in memory.

It’s important to note only a handful of halftime shows have been headlined by female performers. JLo and Shakira follow Lady Gaga’s 2017 show to become only the 6th female-led act. Despite including Bad Bunny and J Balvin, the two of them owned the show, while also keeping to an all Latin lineup. Indeed, there’s little question, all eyes were on the women. They scorched the stage, following a number of years of lackluster acts, leaving everyone fired up and on the edge of their seats.  It was an amazing performance.  Powerful, energetic, sexy, and strong.

Celebs like Lady Gaga applauded them for doing a great job:

Keith Urban (with Nicole Kidman I’m guessing):

And Christina Aguilera agreed:

Without a doubt, it was hailed as one of the best halftime shows in history.  The audio was clear, the dancing on point, and JLo even got to bring her daughter on stage with her.  Certainly, that is a memory they will cherish forever.

The Weekend’s Super Bowl

The Weekend’s Super Bowl Performance

All of this begs the question: why am I so annoyed?

I’m mad because close-minded uptight people got their proverbial panties in a twist, caused a ruckus, the NFL caved, and, as a result, we had to put up with that bizarre, unimpressive, poorly executed, nearly inaudible mess from The Weekend this year.  It brought it right back down to mediocre performances most of us tried to avoid.  We paused the game to put the kiddo to bed, so I skipped through a lot of it. I couldn’t handle the unimpressive singing, terrible audio, poor Michael Jackson-esque dance attempts, headache-inducing camera angles, and dancers who looked like they had diapers on their heads.

Also, did anyone see a single female dancer in the whole show? No one in my house did.

People who can’t handle strong, powerful, sexy women called last year’s show “vulgar” and “demeaning” – clearly missing everything the rest of us saw.  One woman even asked, “Why can’t the NFL present a halftime show that multiple generations can enjoy together?” A man commented to the FCC “The indecency is getting ridiculous.”

Guess what?  My then-five-year-old daughter watched it, and I was happy to let her see women taking center stage, being fierce, and not needing a man to “lead” them.  Not only were they talented and bold, but also amazingly hard-working and all-around impressive.

And yet, over 200,000 people complained about JLo and Shakira’s clothing and dancing style. Over 1300 complaints were submitted to the FCC, which appears to be second only to Janet Jackson’s infamous “wardrobe malfunction.” All of this, even though they exposed nothing, and used dance moves men are cheered for doing.

On the other hand, Adam Levine took off his shirt during Maroon 5’s halftime show in 2019. Guess how many people complained about it as a result? According to SBNation – 55, and that’s higher than other counts I read.

In Conclusion

The blatant double-standard is sickening, and it’s time for it to go.  We would all be better for it.  No one deserves to have to sit through that dizzying, disorientating, mess of a performance with diaper-headed dancers (no, I’m not letting it go) we had this year. 

Most importantly, women deserve better than to be demonized for being the forces of nature we are.

I challenge all of you to be the start of the change.

Ellie Winter