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Rihanna’s Super Bowl Halftime Show Deemed Overtly Sexual as Criticism Continues to Pile Up From All Directions

Published 02/24/2023, 4:20 PM EST

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Rihanna is widely regarded as one of the most accomplished stars in the music industry. With numerous hits and several Grammys, she has transformed into an internationally renowned household name. But, RiRi is not known for her PG-13 discography. One wouldn’t head to her concert hoping for a family-friendly excursion. The music sensation made her mark in the industry with her bold lyrics that are not suited to everyone. However, it seems the NFL audience is not happy with her style.

But, RiRi’s audience knows what her discography entails. However, despite her global success, music tastes vary, and not everyone can be expected to be on board with RiRi’s generous use of explicit language. This has been a hot topic at present because of her Super Bowl halftime performance. Here’s a look at the events that enraged viewers.

Rihanna sparked outrage by her supposed lack of modesty

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As the headliner for the Super Bowl halftime show, the anticipation for Rihanna’s performance was palpable weeks in advance. This was her comeback after a hiatus from releasing new music (with the exception of a couple of singles) and live performances. The level of excitement was high, and the expectations were even higher.

Rihanna left fans spellbound with her performance. While there was some criticism because of the lack of theatrics and guest artists, her display was quite a success. So, why were some viewers disgruntled? According to TMZ, the Federal Communications Council (FCC) received complaints concerning this year’s halftime show.

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Viewers were reportedly not impressed by Rihanna’s liberal use of explicit language and certain sexual gestures in the performance choreography. While RiRi didn’t dance for a majority of the show’s duration- given her pregnancy revelation- her dancers made up for it. But a section of viewers was affronted by the profanity and ‘vulgar’  actions that were inappropriate for younger viewers.

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The NFL halftime show has been notoriously controversial in the past

The FCC, a United States Government agency that regulates television (among others), received 103 complaints concerning the Super Bowl. TMZ reports that almost all of them were directed at RiRi’s halftime show. Clad in red, the 35-year-old soared above the crowd on a floating stage, garnering 112 million viewers. Her most popular hits had fans screaming in delight. The NFL Super Bowl halftime show has always been a spectacle. Some might even argue that the show is more anticipated than the game itself, but that could morph into a heated debate among football fans.

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The current FCC predicament is worrisome. But the 103 complaints pale in comparison to Shakira and Jennifer Lopez’s 1,312 complaints after their Super Bowl LIV halftime performance. However, Justin Timberlake and Janet Jackson’s infamous incident takes the cake when it comes to controversial halftime shows. The duo racked up more than five hundred thousand complaints. Coming back to Rihanna’s performance, this predicament hasn’t proven to be a thorn in her side just yet. As of now, she has offered no comment on the issue.

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Written by:

Anika Gomez

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Anika Gomez is an NFL writer at Essentially Sports. She holds a degree in Journalism, Psychology, and Communicative English from the National School of Journalism and Public Discourse. Anika loves American Football, Formula 1, Basketball, and Tennis.
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Edited by:

Hitesh Nigam