Again in February, Kendrick Lamar carried out at Tremendous Bowl LIX, delivering a halftime present that featured SZA, Serena Williams, Samuel L. Jackson, and loads of shade directed at a sure Canadian rapper. Some although, weren’t too pleased with Lamar’s efficiency; in response to The Hill, the Federal Communications Fee (FCC) reportedly acquired 125 complaints concerning the present, lambasting its political iconography, the rapper’s lyrics, and the choreography’s “vulgarity.” You may see the place that is going.
Most complaints famous Lamar’s efficiency wasn’t applicable for all ages or was politically provocative. A viewer from Lenox, IL bemoaned that their youngsters mustn’t have skilled the present: “My youthful youngsters didn’t must see and listen to this!” That viewer additionally complained about “the language and gestures.”
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One other criticism additionally famous profanity and gestures because the supply of their ire. “For the subsequent Tremendous Bowl, please take into account hiring musical leisure that’s household pleasant and never socially or politically centered… It might be a pleasant change to have leisure that really reveals what America must be; household, nation, decency and respect.”
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That viewer continued, “It’s tiresome to should ship youngsters out of the room throughout what must be a household occasion attributable to potential vulgarity and inappropriate language/gestures.”
Some even known as the present “racist” towards white individuals. An Ocean Metropolis, MD resident stated, “They get away with it but when it was all white it will be a special story. The halftime present ought to have each Black and white and be applicable for everybody.” A Daytona Seaside, FL viewer continued with the same opinion: “I need to know why is it that there was not one white individual concerned???? I felt discriminated towards and why was Uncle Sam Black when Uncle Sam is white?” Uncle Sam, is notably personified in a 1917 poster as a white man. Uncle Sam, nonetheless, is just not actual.
It must be famous that Lamar’s efficiency, and all earlier Tremendous Bowl Halftime Exhibits, are censored for profanity. The FCC receives complaints yearly for Tremendous Bowl halftime performers; in response to Rolling Stone, Rihanna’s 2023 present drew 100 pages of grievances. Jennifer Lopez and Shakira’s 2020 present acquired not less than 1,000 complaints with one viewer stating their “eyes [were] molested.”
Most notably, Janet Jackson’s 2004 wardrobe malfunction drew an estimated 500,000 complaints, plus the FCC fined her $550,000.
Nonetheless, Ok.Dot’s efficiency drew constructive critiques elsewhere. Phish frontman Trey Anastasio sung Lamar’s praises to GQ, calling the present “the deepest factor [he’d] ever seen at a Tremendous Bowl.”
In different information, Lamar is about to start his Grand Nationwide Tour with co-headliner and High Dawg collaborator, SZA, subsequent month. The duo will hit stadiums nationwide, together with stops in Los Angeles, Philadelphia, and Toronto, and tickets are on sale now. At this yr’s Grammy Awards, Lamar scored massive, successful 5 Gramophones, together with Report of the 12 months and Track of the 12 months for “Not Like Us.”
Revisit Consequence’s evaluation of Lamar’s shock 2024 album, GNX.