Super Bowl LIV Halftime Show
The Super Bowl Halftime show is one of the most viewed performances throughout the year. At Super Bowl LIV halftime show Jennifer Lopez and Shakira performed their very unique set which critics called “too sexy”. Their halftime show featured “pole-dancing, a children's choir and both Latina Singers embracing their Colombian and Puerto Rican heritage” which made for mixed reviews on the performance.
Lopez defended her and Shakira's performance stating in an interview “We put on a show that I believe was a celebration of women and our Latino culture” and explains they are both respectful performers and moms so they are very conscious of what they do. She said the night was amazing and it had so many beautiful moments that came out of the Latinas performance. For some, the performance stole the show during the 2020 halftime show. In the article Super Bowl 2020 Halftime Show Review: Jennifer Lopez and Shakira Bring a Big Performance to Miami it states that “the two transformed the field into a concert and each brought their unique elements of dance and flavor to the performance”. They also talk about how amazed they are at the fact 50-year-old Jennifer Lopez brought “her dancing skills and her exceptional voice to the stage” as well as Shakira's “high energy performance” and “danced like the world was watching”. Shakira opened up the night singing “She Wolf” followed by many more of her famous songs. She performed “Whenever, Whenever” and “Hips Don’t Lie” followed up by singing “I Like It” originally made famous by Cardi B, shocking the crowd. Shakira was accompanied by Bad Bunny, a Puerto Rican performer, with this super bowl remix of sorts. After Shakira came J Lo‘s performance where she had her daughter Emme and J Balvin perform on stage with her. They had many wardrobe changes and Jennifer was draped with a coat bearing the Puerto Rican flag. Overall Jennifer and Shakira‘s performances were high energy and stood out.
While some loved the performance others did not approve of the more risque parts of the show. In an article written by Robin Smith, Refuge for Women Las Vegas City Director, she shares her employees reactions to the images taken from the Super Bowl LIV halftime show. Smith stated that “five seconds into the halftime show I walked out” explaining that she worked with that every day. She asked some women how they felt when they were dancing, stripping, or performing. Women who were not named stated that she had felt “degraded, object, ashamed, exploited” not one person who Smith asked said they were empowered or strong like J. Lo explained the halftime show to be. Overall the halftime performance can be seen as either a great performance or a more risque performance that degrades women. It's up to the perspective of the viewer.