The Super Bowl live halftime show was one for the books. Shakira and Jennifer Lopez put on a career spanning performance, complete with consistent dances, surprise singers, and catchy costumes. But if you too were focused on the commotion, you may have missed the pair of micro political statements.
About a 15-minute display featured a lowkey message about immigration — but it almost didn’t. Reports said Jay-Z and his company ROC Nation allegedly tried to force Lopez to cut the moment from the show.
A political statement printed in Super Bowl halftime show
Toward the end of the set, Lopez’s 11-year-old daughter, Emme, and the other children appeared on the stage and in illuminated cages. The group wore white sweaters with American flags on them.
Emme then stepped out of her cage, singing Lopez’s 19 songs, “Let’s Get Loud.” She and her mother Bruce Springsteen associated the song in “Born in the United States.” As they rang the song outside, Lopez wore a feather cape that featured an American flag on the back and a Puerto Rican flag on the inside.
The moment is a reference to the crisis at the US-Mexico border, where migrant children are separated from their families and placed under house arrest.
Although both Lopez and Shakira took part in this segment, reports say that the ‘Sahi Ho Jao’ singer came with it on his own.
Jay-Z and Roc Nation reportedly didn’t want to get political on the Jennifer Lopez show.
Sources told the entertainment website lovebscott.com on February 3 that Roc Nation — who made a deal with the NFL — “fought to cut him from his set.”
Sources said, “Despite a great deal of pressure from the Roc Nation, Jennifer kept her feet down and insisted on keeping the block.
Insiders claimed Jay-Z himself stepped in and tried to personally talk to Lopez from making political statements on the show, but “he wouldn’t be taken away by the idea.”
Roc Nation reportedly also tried to avoid Shakira from participating at the moment, but she refused, “playing drums during the numbers.”
The NFL and Roc Nation announced in August 2019 that it had reached a partnership for events and social initiatives. Jay-Z immediately attracted criticism for the deal, with many closing him down for doing business with an organization that allegedly blackballed former NFL star Colin Kaepernick for kneeling during the national anthem.
Some felt Jay-Z betrayed Kaepernick and took the deal only to benefit his business interests. But 4:44 rapper Anatha insisted, saying at a later reporter conference that he was trying to move the conversation forward and make enough changes.
“I think we’ve gone past kneeling, and I think it’s time to move into action items,” Jay Z said (via Hollywood Reporter).
But in this latest news, people are once again questioning his intentions and giving him a side-eye. As of writing, Jay-Z has not resolved the report.
This segment was essential to Jennifer Lopez
Lopez has stated in the past that he wanted to represent the Latins community and use the opportunity to bring people together. After his performance in the Super Bowl, he revealed in a message shared on his Instagram page the political moment and the motivations behind it. She wrote:
“All I want is my girls, the little girls on stage with me and the world know how to use their voices and are proud of everything they are doing. Others build walls, keep us out, or Can try to keep us in cages. We are pleased to realize that together we all make this beautiful country truly great.
The post included a video of Lopez with her daughter and preparation for the show.
Looking at social media, many people loved the program. With any luck, the next halftime show will be just as entertaining.
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