For the past several years, Pepsi and then Jay-Z have booked the annual halftime show for the Super Bowl.  Many of those acts have been Hip-Hop and Rap related artists.

On February 9 Super Bowl LIX will be held at the Superdome in New Orleans with rap artist Kendrick Lamar as the halftime entertainment.

Several members of the Louisiana State Legislature are not happy with the choice and are looking to take action to find a more “family friendly” entertainment.

Seventeen of the lawmakers have threatened to withhold all funding for the Superdome over Lamar’s performance. 

In a letter sent to the Louisiana Stadium and Exposition District and the Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation, the lawmakers stated that, “Louisiana taxpayers certainly have ‘skin in the game’ when it comes to helping to fund the Super Bowl.”

The letter goes on to say, “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’.  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 lawmakers cited the halftime performances of a scantily clad Jennifer Lopez making sexual gestures, Janet Jackson’s “wardrobe malfunction”, and Rihanna’s lewd gestures and obscene lyrics as specific examples of decidedly un-family friendly shows.

The 17 admit that the shows may have been acceptable in the states where they occurred, but in Louisiana such activity is seen as vulgar, inappropriate for children, and objectify women.  All of the lawmakers who have signed the letter are Republicans from areas outside of New Orleans.

According to Louisiana Representative Beryl Amadee a “family friendly” show is one where “you’re sitting in front of your TV watching and your eight-year-old is watching, you’re not embarrassed.”

Amadee added, “taxpayer dollars should not be used to fund smut.  The people are tired of frivolous spending. They’re tired of taxpayers’ dollars being wasted.”

Kendrick Lamar is a 17 time Grammy Award winning rapper who has also won the Pulitzer Prize for Music.  SZA, Keke Palmer, and Maude Apatow are also expected to perform.

Lawmakers who signed the letter are:
Sen. Valarie Hodges, R-Denham Springs
Sen. Adam Bass, R-Bossier City
Sen. Heather Cloud, R-Turkey Creek
Sen. Rick Edmonds, R-Baton Rouge
Sen. Mike Fesi, R-Houma
Sen. Caleb Kleinpeter, R-Port Allen
Sen. Blake Miguez, R-New Iberia
Sen. Thomas A. Pressly, R-Monroe
Sen. Jeremy Stine, R-Lake Charles
Rep. Beryl Amedee, R-Gray
Rep. Raymond Crews, R-Bossier City
Rep. Kellee Dickerson, R-Denham Springs
Rep. Kathy Edmonston, R-Gonzales
Rep. Dodie Horton, R-Haughton
Rep. Dixon McMakin, R-Baton Rouge
Rep. Charles Owen, R-Rosepine
Roger Wilder, R-Denham Springs