Louisiana lawmaker wants Super Bowl halftime show to clean up its act
Rihanna performs onstage during the Super Bowl LVII halftime show at State Farm Stadium on Feb. 12, 2023, in Glendale, Arizona. ()
NEW ORLEANS – A group of 17 Louisiana lawmakers has sent a letter to two key organizers for Super Bowl LIX expressing 'serious concerns' with the halftime entertainment being 'less than family friendly' during the Feb. 9 broadcast from the Superdome.
Sen. Valarie Hodges, R-Denham Springs, penned the letter on behalf of her colleagues and sent it Monday to Phillip Sherman, chairman of the Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation, and Robert Vosbein Jr., chairman of the Louisiana Stadium and Exposition District, which oversees the Superdome.
Hodges cited previous Super Bowl halftime performances that she found objectionable. She singled out the 2020 performance in Miami of Jennifer Lopez, in which she '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.'
From the 2023 Super Bowl in Glendale, Arizona, Hodges was critical of Rihanna, who '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.'
'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,' Hodges wrote in her letter.
In addition to the state lawmakers, Hodges obtained signatures from 15 leaders of 'pro-family' organizations in support of her letter. They included Tony Perkins with the Family Research Council, Gene Mills with the Louisiana Family Forum and Tony Spell, pastor of Life Tabernacle Church.
The senator concluded her letter by acknowledging the contract to hold Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans was executed seven years ago, with terms long ago negotiated and finalized. She requested that any future contracts with the NFL include an assurance that 'any performers' conduct adheres to Louisiana's community decency standards.'
Reached by phone Tuesday, Vosbein with the Superdome district said it was 'unfortunate' that Hodges waited until less than two weeks before the Super Bowl to share her concerns because they could possibly have been considered if aired sooner. He deferred comment on the content of the upcoming halftime show to the Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation, which he said is more directly involved with the NFL than his board.
Jay Cicero, president and CEO of the Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation, issued a statement in response to questions about Hodges' letter.
'We respect and value the comments of our legislators, who play a critical role in our ability to secure large events providing an economic boost to our city and state,' Cicero said. 'We have shared the letter with the NFL and we are all in agreement that this year's halftime show will be a family-friendly event befitting New Orleans' storied history hosting Super Bowls.'
In her letter, Hodges noted that Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation has received $10 million from the state's Major Events Incentive Fund, including $5 million for Super Bowl LIX economic development initiatives. She said that money represents 'skin in the game' for Louisiana taxpayers.
In a phone interview Tuesday, Hodges said she was hopeful the NFL and Super Bowl planners would take her concerns to heart. She was asked how she would react if Lamar's performance goes beyond her parameters of good taste.
'That's up to the locals to deal with that however they want to,' she said. 'We would just deal with that however we deal with anyone else that would break the law, I would hope.'
Recording artist Kendrick Lamar is the featured entertainer for halftime at Super Bowl LIX. He's the latest star featured since the NFL partnered with Roc Nation, the production company of rap mogul Jay-Z, in 2019 to produce halftime performances at the league's championship game. In addition to Jennifer Lopez, Shakira and Rihanna, Roc Nation has slated Eminem, Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, The Weeknd and Usher for Super Bowl halftime shows since 2020.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell confirmed in October that the league would continue its partnership with Roc Nation despite allegations of rape against Jay-Z stemming from the civil lawsuit against music producer Sean 'Puffy' Combs.
SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Elle
an hour ago
- Elle
Inside Rihanna and Son Riot's Big Night at A$AP Rocky's AWGE Fashion Show
THE RUNDOWN On Friday, Rihanna supported her partner, A$AP Rocky, at his AWGE fashion show during Paris Men's Fashion Week. By her side all night was their youngest son, Riot Rose, looking as fashionable as his mom and dad. The two parents have a second son, RZA, and are expecting a third child. As always, Rihanna leaned into her unique maternity style, wearing a loose button-down shirt in a blue and red stripe pattern that opened over her belly. She paired it with a pleated black miniskirt, accessorizing with white pointed-toe heels with criss-crossed laces over tall gray socks. She left her long hair down in gentle waves and wore a number of different chains and pendants of different lengths. Riot was wearing purple joggers and a denim jacket featuring a Harley Davidson and American flag patch over a white T-shirt. On his feet were a pair of black, red, and white Vans sneakers. The proud mom kept her son on her knee in the front row throughout the show. Before the family night, Rihanna and Rocky were seen at Dior's Homme men's spring 2026 show, again seated in the front row. Rihanna wore a black cape-style coat covered in gorgeous embroidery, over a pale green vest and white button-down. She paired it with gray pants and accessorized with yellow sunglasses and jewelry pieces by Briony Raymond and Marlo Laz. Rocky wore a bright red, green, and blue tie over a gray button-down and a pair of jeans, carrying a tan bag covered in fringe tassels. The couple confirmed their third pregnancy at the Met Gala in May. Rihanna told Entertainment Tonight at the time, 'I'm good. I'm shockingly feeling OK and not too overwhelmed at the moment. I mean, at first it was kinda like, 'Ah!' And I'm tired, but then I'm excited.'
New York Times
an hour ago
- New York Times
Jonathan Anderson Sets a New Dressing Agenda at Dior
A photo of Christian Dior's original salon stretched the width of the Invalides, the gold-domed palace where Napoleon is buried, offering a fish-eye view of the past to the throngs shrieking outside — and a sign of just where Dior believes it belongs in the pantheon of French power. Inside, dove-gray velvet lined the walls of a temporary event space and displayed two rare 18th-century oils by Jean Siméon Chardin on loan from the National Galleries of Scotland and the Louvre. Robert Pattinson gossiped with Josh O'Connor. Donatella Versace schmoozed with Roger Federer. A pregnant Rihanna arrived with ASAP Rocky a mere 45 minutes after the official start time. That's how much anticipation there was for the Dior men's show. The filmmaker Luca Guadagnino was even trailing around to document the moment. It was Jonathan Anderson's debut as the creative director/savior of the house, the first designer to be put in charge of both men's and women's wear. And under all the buzz, a giant question mark hovered: Could the former Loewe wunderkind reignite excitement not just in the brand but in fashion? Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
New York Post
an hour ago
- New York Post
Super Ball: Tom Brady spotted ‘chatting up' Sydney Sweeney at Jeff Bezos' wedding
He's playing the field — but may have just scored a touchdown. Tom Brady was spotted 'chatting up' Sydney Sweeney on Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez's wedding weekend — sparking speculation they could be crowned the newest celebrity 'it' couple. Many of the guests at the billionaire's star-studded Venetian wedding on Friday, such Leonardo DiCaprio, Jerry Seinfeld, Orlando Bloom, Oprah and the Kardashians, are staying at The Gritti Palace, a luxury hotel on the Grand Canal. Advertisement The famous faces were rubbing elbows at the hotel's bar, and Sweeney, 27, was the 'center of attention' for all the bachelors in attendance — and Brady, 47, who is 'taking center stage as the life of the party' was no exception, TMZ reported. Social media users had a field day with the romance rumors. 3 Tom Brady was chatting with Sydney Sweeney at Jeff Bezos' wedding, fueling romance rumors. Matteo Chinellato/ Advertisement 'If you impregnate someone at Bezos wedding, do you get next day delivery?' one Instagram user quipped. 'Only if you have Prime,' another replied. Brady and his ex-wife, supermodel Gisele Bündchen, divorced in 2022 after 13 years of marriage and two children. Soon after their split, Bündchen moved on with her jiu-jitsu instructor Joaquim Valente, and the pair welcomed a son in February. Advertisement 'Gisele may have won the battle, but Brady's going to the win the war,' one Instagrammer joked. 3 Sydney Sweeney called off her engagement in March. GC Images Lucky for Brady, the 'Euphoria' actress recently called off her engagement to her longtime boyfriend Jonathan Davino — and recently said she is 'loving' her single life. Although some are pointing out Brady and Sweeney's glaring 20-year age gap, many are cheering on the seven-time Super Bowl winner. Advertisement 'People talking bad on Brady for hanging out with Sydney Sweeney when any single man at the age of 47 would do it if they got the chance in a instant,' one X user wrote. 'The child of Brady-Sweeney will win 11 Super Bowl rings between 2045-2070,' another added. 3 Jeff Bezos married Lauren Sanchez on Friday in Venice. @laurensanchezbezos via REUTERS Others can't handle the news of the possible pairing. 'Tom Brady already has everything. If he gets Syd Sweeney he will become too powerful and may be our only chance of beating AI,' one X user wrote. 'I've never once wanted to be anyone! But if Tom Brady starts dating Sydney Sweeney! Bruh, it's just too much,' another said.
