Rihanna's Super Bowl Halftime Show Spawns FCC Complaints From Viewers

Rihanna's Super Bowl Halftime Show has only prompted 103 complaints to the Federal Communications Commission, far fewer than the 540,000 that followed Janet Jackson's 2004 performance.

The singer faced numerous complaints regarding both her lyrics and backup dancers. Some viewers felt that the dancers' "overtly sexual" moves were offensive and pornographic in nature.

Inappropriate Touching and Dance Moves

Following Rihanna's halftime show this past weekend, many viewers expressed disappointment that her performance appeared to be overtly sexual. While such criticism isn't unusual after such an important event, it can be especially disheartening for such a young performer.

According to Billboard, the Federal Communications Commission - which oversees television and radio in America - received 103 complaints about Fox's Super Bowl LVII broadcast. Of these, most were related to Rihanna's halftime performance.

Viewers found the "Umbrella" singer's performance to be overly sexual and her lyrics to pornography. Additionally, they felt her background dancers' gyrating choreography offensive.

Rihanna's FCC complaints are relatively insignificant compared to Janet Jackson's 2004 wardrobe malfunction that drew 540,000 complaints, yet it remains upsetting that some have expressed discomfort over what they perceived as an overly sexual performance.

However, this does not suggest Rihanna is a bad person or her performance inappropriate for children. While the FCC doesn't investigate every complaint, it can help the agency stay informed on consumer experiences and may lead to investigations.

Thankfully, this isn't the first time an FCC performance has caused controversy and Rihanna likely won't be affected by it. She's still young and has many more important things on her plate.

The FCC is the government agency responsible for overseeing America's telecommunications system and setting regulations on interstate and international communication via cable, satellite, radio and wire. It receives numerous complaints regarding television stations, radio stations and internet companies it regulates.

One viewer expressed concern that Rihanna was "genital grabbing, sniffing her fingers, gyrating and perpetual air humping" throughout her performance. Another felt she was glorifying being a stripper while remaining fully clothed throughout.

In addition to the many complaints, Rihanna's show also sparked a number of tweets from viewers who were appalled by her performance. These comments ranged from "inappropriate touching and dance moves" to "very raunchy for kids." It remains uncertain how the FCC will react to these criticisms, but it seems clear that Rihanna's show won't be forgotten by many people.

Inappropriate for Kids

Rihanna's Super Bowl halftime show sparked 103 complaints to the Federal Communications Commission, many of which focused on her sexualized performance and background dancers. According to TMZ Sports, nearly all were directed at Rihanna's erotica-filled moves and lyrics throughout her performance.

Though most complaints were about her overall performance, some also voiced displeasure with some of the songs she chose to perform. Some, such as "Pink Friday" and "Right Now," contain explicit language.

Parents reported finding the Super Bowl to be a bit too explicit for their children, according to The New York Post. Although football is certainly at its heart of it all, many were worried their kids would witness explicit performances during the middle of the game, The Times reported.

Despite these reservations, the performance was the second most watched halftime show behind Katy Perry's 2015 Super Bowl performance and has already been viewed 38 million times on YouTube - that's nearly a third as many times as the entire game on Sunday!

Rihanna has long been a superstar in the music industry, yet her ability to command attention in public has always been an issue. In the past, the Barbadian singer has been accused of being overly sexualized, most notably for lip-syncing during her halftime show at 2017 MTV Video Music Awards.

In fact, several songs in her show were specifically targeted at men and featured overt sexual content. Not only were these lyrics derogatory, but they also made light of the subject matter.

Many parents were deeply offended by Rihanna's performance and felt its lyrics and dancers were inappropriate for their children. These complaints weren't limited to the actual game - they also appeared on social media platforms like The New York Post.

Although Rihanna's style has evolved over the years, some complaints about her performance at Super Bowl 51 reflect how people have adjusted to her unique sound. While some fans may be disappointed in what they saw, others applaud her for taking risks and showcasing what she's capable of.

Overtly Sexual Performance

Rihanna's Super Bowl Halftime Show Generates FCC Complaints From Viewers

Many watched Rihanna's performance at this year's Super Bowl, but some weren't pleased with what they saw. Many felt her show was overtly sexual and inappropriate for children. The Federal Communications Commission received more than 100 complaints from viewers regarding her dance moves and outfit.

One viewer in California wrote, "Rihanna's dancers were showing overtly sexual movements which aren't appropriate for over-the-air television." Others voiced concerns about her lyrics, claiming they were too explicit for children to watch. One parent even stated, "I don't want my kids watching this."

Throughout her 13-minute high-flying set, she performed 12 of her own songs - including Bad Girl and Bad Boy - as well as two Kanye West tracks: All the Lights and This Town.

However, many found Rihanna's performance to be lackluster and uninspired. Some complained that she sounded like she was lip-synching instead of having fun, while others noted how unimpressive Rihanna looked during the event.

The singer was criticized for her outfit choices - mostly baggy trousers and a red coat with a breastplate. She looked much more conservative than usual, which led to complaints from a minority of fans about both her dress and performance.

Reports indicate that Rihanna's performance prompted 103 FCC complaints, mostly about what some perceived to be overtly sexual dancing by her backup dancers. Some viewers even compared her moves with Kim Petras and Sam Smith's Grammy Awards performance earlier in February, which they felt was too sultry for their taste.

Despite complaints, the halftime show attracted an unprecedented number of viewers - over 118 million. Rihanna also revealed she is pregnant with her second child with rapper A$AP Rocky, whom she has been dating since 2020. They expect their son to arrive in May 2022.

Not Family Friendly

Super Bowl Halftime Shows are always highly-anticipated events in the entertainment world. This year's performance saw Rihanna take center stage to perform some of her most popular songs.

She sat atop a floating platform and performed with an ensemble of dancers throughout the entire performance, which featured some fireworks at certain points. She donned a red outfit before changing into a dramatic coat at the end.

Her show wasn't exactly family friendly, however; some people expressed concerns about the way she touched and danced. Additionally, it was too loud and a little too sexual for some tastes.

Rihanna's setlist included some of her biggest hits, including "Bitch Better Have My Money," "Run this Town," and "Umbrella." For the latter song, she brought out SZA for an emotional performance of "Umbrella." Ultimately, Rihanna concluded her set with an intense rendition of "Diamonds."

However, the FCC only received 33 complaints about Janet Jackson's Super Bowl performance - a relatively low number compared to some of the grievances viewers have lodged during other big-time performances. During her 2004 halftime show, Jackson was criticised for her wardrobe malfunction that left her breasts exposed during the show.

Thankfully, this year's halftime show was much more kid-friendly than previous years. It was much less loud and had a shorter runtime than average.

Another notable change from last year's halftime show was that Rihanna did not feature any special guests. In past years, many halftime shows have featured celebrity appearances from artists like Coldplay or Katy Perry.

Many had hoped she would bring out SZA or Jay-Z this year, though it remained uncertain whether or not this would happen.

She revealed to Apple Music's Nadeska Alexis that she went through 39 versions of her set list before selecting the one she ultimately performed. Additionally, she admitted having some nerves about performing after giving birth three months prior.

But she certainly delivered an impressive performance, serving as a reminder that she still has some powerful musical choices to offer. With her trademark charisma and relaxed charm that have made her such a success in the industry, she did so with ease and charm.