Louisiana Lawmakers threaten Superdome funding over halftime show "smut"

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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."

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