How Super Bowl halftime moments became flashpoints from “wardrobe malfunction” to kids in cages
LOS ANGELES (AP) — For a show that lasts about 13 minutes, the Super Bowl halftime performance has fueled decades of conversation.
Sometimes the spark comes from a single moment, as happened when Janet Jackson and Justin Timberlake’s infamous “wardrobe malfunction” triggered an on-air showdown. Other times, it comes through image and intent, from Jennifer Lopez’s 2020 staging of Children in Cage critiquing U.S. immigration policies toward children at the U.S.-Mexico border, to Kendrick Lamar’s carefully layered black narrative, told as Donald Trump watches from his seat inside Caesars Superdome in New Orleans.
The halftime show amplifies everything – fashion choices, choreography, symbolism – and invites interpretation on a scale few performers have ever experienced.
That story forms the backdrop as Bad Bunny prepares to take over the halftime stage, a moment that places Latino identity at the center of America’s most-watched television event. The conversation that develops around his performance extends beyond the music, touching on language, culture and how much room one of the world’s biggest stars will have for symbolism and social commentary — including past criticism of Trump — within a spectacle long shaped by the tight oversight of the NFL.
With that in mind, here’s a look at some of the most talked about halftime moments:
Timberlake and Jackson’s ‘wardrobe malfunction’
The halftime show’s most enduring controversy took place during the 2004 Super Bowl in Houston, when Jackson performed alongside Timberlake.
In the final seconds of “Rock Your Body,” Timberlake tugged at Jackson’s costume, briefly revealing her right breast, adorned with a decorative shield. Timberlake later described the moment as an unintentional “wardrobe malfunction,” a phrase that quickly entered pop culture.
The reaction was immediate and far-reaching. The incident sparked FCC scrutiny, congressional attention, and a reevaluation of live television standards. CBS, which broadcast the game, was fined $550,000 by the Federal Communications Commission, a fine later overturned, and broadcasters expanded their use of time delays for live events.
The professional fallout, however, was not uniform. Jackson was disinvited from the Grammy Awards telecast the following week and largely retreated from the public spotlight, while Timberlake’s career continued uninterrupted. Years later, Timberlake said the two had reconciled, but the disparity in their treatment had not been forgotten.
When the NFL announced Timberlake’s return at halftime in 2018, the decision reignited the debate. Critics pointed to what they saw as a racial and gender double standard, arguing that Jackson, a black woman, bore the brunt of the consequences while Timberlake, a white man, emerged largely unscathed.
Hashtags like #JusticeForJanet have resurfaced online, reframing the moment through a broader cultural lens.
“Formation”: Beyoncé and political symbolism
When Beyoncé performed “Formation” in 2016, the halftime show became a moment of cultural statement.
Set in the Bay Area, the performance relied heavily on black history and identity. Dancers appeared in Black Panther-inspired outfits, raised clenched fists and formed symbolic shapes on the field as Beyoncé delivered lyrics celebrating Black characteristics and pride. The images echoed decades of black activism, from civil rights-era protest to modern demands for social justice.
The performance won widespread acclaim for its clarity and artistry, while also drawing criticism from conservative commentators and some law enforcement groups who accused it of promoting anti-police sentiment. With an audience of more than 110 million viewers, the debate soon moved beyond the stadium.
Several moments stood out. The dancers briefly formed an “X”, interpreted by some as a reference to Malcolm X, while the raised fists were reminiscent of Tommie Smith and John Carlos’ 1968 Olympic protest. The images directly aligned with the message of “Formation,” which centers black identity and self-definition.
“Believe in Love”: Coldplay and evolving visibility
Coldplay headlined the halftime show in 2016, bringing out Beyoncé and Bruno Mars for a performance built around themes of unity, inclusion and joy.
The set featured a rainbow-colored stage, vibrant dancers and a mosaic crowd chanting “Believe in Love.” A pride flag was visible near frontman Chris Martin and the show’s closing visuals emphasized togetherness.
While many viewers praised the message as affirming and timely, some conservative groups criticized the presentation for embracing LGBTQ+ symbolism. The reaction reflected larger cultural conversations about representation and visibility in mainstream entertainment.
When Kendrick Lamar’s symbolism becomes history
Last year, Kendrick Lamar treated the halftime scene as a controlled narrative space, using choreography, costumes and staging to explore themes of identity, power and perception. His performance unfolded with cinematic precision, opening with dancers exiting a Buick GNX in choreographic fashion before Lamar took command of the field.
Dancers dressed in red, white and blue framed the performance, while Samuel L. Jackson appeared as an “Uncle Sam” figure who interrupted the action with a pointed comment, labeling the show “too loud” and urging Lamar to “play along.” The exchange underscored the tension between expression and expectation that has come to define modern halftime shows.
While the performance remained within championship parameters, it still sparked debate among commentators who scrutinized the imagery and tone. The response reinforced how the halftime show, even without blatant rule-breaking, can function as a visual narrative that invites interpretation on a scale unmatched in other live events.
More challenging moments on the global stage
The NFL has long maintained guardrails around the halftime show, particularly when performances lean into political commentary.
However, some artists have chosen to test – and sometimes ignore – these limits.
Ahead of Jennifer Lopez’s performance with Shakira in 2020, the NFL raised concerns over a segment widely interpreted as referring to children detained in immigration detention facilities. The League asked Lopez to cut a segment featuring children in cages, a criticism of U.S. immigration policies. But she refused and went ahead with the images, using visual symbolism rather than an explicit message.
The 2022 show featured a hip-hop celebration with a solid lineup of Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Mary J. Blige, 50 Cent, Eminem and Kendrick Lamar. But at the end of Eminem’s performance of “Lose Yourself,” the rapper dramatically took a knee, lowering his head in a gesture widely interpreted as a tribute to Colin Kaepernick, whose decision to kneel during the national anthem in 2016 to protest police brutality sparked a nationwide cultural reckoning. Kaepernick’s protest was later echoed by other players and he would soon find himself out of the league.
Reports before the game suggested that the NFL discouraged the gesture, although the league disputed that account. “We looked at all elements of the show during several rehearsals this week and were aware that Eminem would be doing it,” NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said at the time.
During Madonna’s 2012 intermission, MIA stuck her middle finger at the camera, a split-second gesture that immediately attracted the attention of regulators and replay-heavy coverage. The action resulted in an immediate fine and a legal dispute with the NFL. The parties later reached a settlement, ending a multimillion-dollar lawsuit over the crash.