Seventeen members of the Louisiana State Legislature are threatening to pull funding for the Superdome if the Super Bowl halftime show is not "family friendly" despite the fact that no one affiliated with the Superdome has anything to do with the production of the halftime show.
That's according to a letter those lawmakers sent to the Louisiana Stadium and Exposition District and the Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation. In that letter, dated January 16, the legislators say they're making their demands because "Louisiana taxpayers certainly have 'skin in the game'" when it comes to helping to fund the Super Bowl.
"Our fiscal staff has reported that, in 2024, $10 million state taxpayer dollars were taken from the La. State Major Events Incentive Fund and were given to the Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation, including a specific appropriation of $5 million from that incentive fund, for "economic development initiatives related to Super Bowl LIX," the letter states. "While certainly a large amount of support exists among many Louisianians who are excited about the Super Bowl coming back to New Orleans, many are also hardworking taxpayers with children who have serious concerns about the fact that past Super Bowl halftime performances have been less than family-friendly."
The letter specifically highlights three performances as the non-family-friendly content they want this year's Super Bowl halftime show, starring Kendrick Lamar, to avoid.
"For example, in 2020, Jennifer Lopez wore little clothing and was groped by male and female dancers on stage, while the performer made
sexually suggestive gestures and performed on a stripper pole. It was widely reported in 2020 that Lopez's performance generated thousands upon thousands of viewer complaints to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and on social media," the letter read.
"Further, who can forget the infamous 2004 halftime show with Janet Jackson disrobing? Jackson's exposed bare breast was excused by one of her fellow performers as a "wardrobe malfunction" but it initially generated a fine against CBS from the FCC for more than $500,000. Had that 2004 performance taken place in Louisiana and been proven to be intentional, it would have violated Louisiana's obscenity law (R.S. 14:106) which prohibits such public exposure.
"At the 2023 halftime show, performer Rihanna was shown groping herself while she sang song lyrics that were so offensive that few Louisiana adults could read those lyrics before an audience without shame."
The lawmakers add that this part of their effort to "(take) seriously the protection of children" and to "(oppose) the objectification of women."
"We realize that these past vulgar performances may have been acceptable to the residents of those states where those Super Bowls were held but, in Louisiana, these lewd acts are inappropriate for viewing by children, objectify women, and are simply NOT welcomed by the majority of Louisiana parents," the letter states.
But what exactly does "family friendly" mean?
"A family-friendly performance is one where when you're sitting in front of your TV watching and your eight-year-old is watching, you're not embarrassed," Rep. Beryl Amadée (R-Gray), one of the letters signatories said. "A musical performance, a dance performance, those are all fine. What we don't need is a bunch of nudity and a bunch of foul language."
The letter failed to mention Justin Timberlake's role in Jackson's "Nipplegate" controversy at Super Bowl XXXVIII in which he ripped away part of Jackson's shirt or Maroon 5's Super Bowl LIII halftime show in which singer Adam Levine performed topless.
However, Amadée says this is not about race or gender.
"I don't believe that was a factor at all," Amadée said.
Amadée said this is about making sure tax dollars are used as effectively as possible.
"Taxpayer dollars should not be used to fund smut," Amadée said. "The people are tired of frivilous spending. They're tired of taxpayers' dollars being wasted."
Amadée said if Lamar's halftime show doesn't meet her and her colleagues' expectations, they could ask their colleagues to cut off state money dedicated to the Superdome.
"This letter is a statement that this is a possibility," Amadée said. "I think this is evidence that the eye is actually on the ball. In your household, if your refrigerator is broken, is it time to use your household budget to buy more pornographic magazines, or is it time to fix the refrigerator?"
Neither the Superdome nor anyone else locally decided who would perform at the Super Bowl halftime show or how the show will be produced. That's an NFL decision.