By: Shana Forta, VP of Operation
Everyone has their own favorite part of the Superbowl. Some people eagerly await the Game, the commercials, or the half time show. Halftime at the Superbowl is generally borderline family friendly fare for the millions of fans watching during their yearly ritual of watching the Super Bowl with family and friends. Admittedly in years past there have been ‘wardrobe malfunctions’ involving Janet Jackson and Justin Timberlake. However, as bad it was, we were not mired in the investigations into sexual abuse by actor Bill Cosby, Hollywood director Harvey Weinstein, and Jeffrey Epstein.
Perturbed that Beyoncé and Jay Z did not stand for the National Anthem, my expectations for the half time show were quickly dashed when I realized that the NFL had failed miserably, allowing cheap sexual messages of bare skin and provocative dancing to take over the screen. What seemed missing to me was the loud and echoing message from the global #Me too movement, the one that highlights the rampant sexual abuse that is de rigueur and seemingly so prevalent in the entertainment business. Surely, TV executives haven’t lived with their heads in the sand during the past year and know just how important messaging is to the youth of this country? It seems like they are saying to do as I say, but not as I do.
We live in the most tolerant and women friendly country in the world. Yet it appears that the openly tolerant are actually intolerant and that sexual innuendo and female objectification is alive and well and helps to sell time for ads. In fact what transpired last night highlights how out of touch the organizers of the Superbowl must be to allow this raunchy and provocative show to go ahead: Jennifer Lopez making her entrance sashaying and cavorting off a stripper pole; she goes on to tear off her skirt to showcase her ripped abs and toned legs. She is 50. I get it. Show some modesty and self - respect Jennifer.
