This story was originally published by the WND News Center.
A coalition of lawmakers and organizations has asked the organizers of this year's Super Bowl in New Orleans to keep "vulgar" and "lewd" content about of the presentation.
A letter points out that "vile" past shows have made it clear that "the halftime performance this year in New Orleans will be inappropriate for children to watch."
The letter points out past offenses allowed by the Super Bowl including in 2020 when "Jennifer Lopez wore little clothing and was groped by male and female dancers on stage," which reportedly generated "thousands upon thousands" of complaints to the Federal Communications Commission.
"Who can forget the infamous 2004 halftime show with Janet Jackson disrobing? Jackson's exposed bare breast was excused by one of her fellow performers as a 'wardrobe malfunction' but it initially generated a fine against CBS from the FCC for more than $500,000."
The letter requests that the show follow community standards for the location where it is held.
"Had that 2004 performance taken place in Louisiana and been proven to be intentional, it would have violated Louisiana's obscenity law (R.S. 14:106) which prohibits such public exposure. At the 2023 halftime show, performer Rihanna was shown groping herself while she sang song lyrics that were so offensive that few Louisiana adults could read those lyrics before an audience without shame," the letter said.
"The irony is that, although we (the signers of this letter) refuse to repeat these lyrics in writing in this letter because they are so offensive, the national promoters of the 2023 performance had no such qualms about allowing the singing of such lewd lyrics in front of millions of children in the stadium and on television.
"We realize that these past vulgar performances may have been acceptable to the residents of those states where those Super Bowls were held but, in Louisiana, these lewd acts are inappropriate for viewing by children, objectify women, and are simply NOT welcomed by the majority of Louisiana parents."
The letter was signed first by Sen. Valarie Hodges of Louisiana's Senate District 13, and she was joined by more than a dozen other state lawmakers.
Organizations supporting the plan included the Family Research Council, and Life Tabernacle Church, La. College Republicans of America, Louisiana Republican Assembly, Louisiana Sunshine, Louisiana Family Forum, Restore Liberty Louisiana, and more.
Tony Perkins, a former lawmaker who now heads the FRC, said, "Hopefully, this year's Super Bowl halftime show will not be out of bounds for the hundreds of thousands of families that will be watching. But it is not only about protecting children, which is important as that is, but also upholding community standards. The Super Bowl organizers need to abide by the community standards that the citizens of Louisiana have adopted."
The letter noted that the contract for this year's events long ago were finalized.
"We do, however, request that future contracts for the use of facilities that are funded and paid for by Louisiana taxpayers ensure, in writing as part of the contract, that any performers' conduct adheres to Louisiana's community decency standards," the letter said.
