With the 2020 Super Bowl wrapped up, there have certainly been varying opinions about the halftime show performance by Jennifer Lopez and Shakira.
For some people, it seemed as though the outing was a sign of two aging pop stars attempting to maintain relevancy, while others saw it as a powerful moment with a duo of divas flexing their muscle and showing the world that they still have what it takes to perform on one of the world’s biggest stage.
However, the Fast & Furious star, Lucas Black, had quite a different opinion, which has created an uproar on social media platforms.
Following the conclusion of the halftime festivities at the Super Bowl, Black took to his Twitter account, spouting off about how the performance by J. Lo and Shakira endorsed ‘sexual exploitation’.
“Protecting your daughter and sons from seeing the display of sexual exploitation at the #SuperBowl halftime show is showing love,” he began. “We have to teach our younger generation that their value and self worth comes from what God says is true about them.”
Black’s tweet certainly led to some interesting responses from a host of Twitter users, no doubt.
Protecting your daughter and sons from seeing the display of sexual exploitation at the #SuperBowl halftime show is showing love. We have to teach our younger generation that their value and self worth comes from what God says is true about them.
— Lucas Black (@TheLucasBlack) February 3, 2020
On Twitter questioned whether Black was on drugs, as all they saw were two powerful women issuing a performance to be remembered. “Dude, are you high?” they wrote. “What I saw was two extraordinary women putting on a hell of a show, not sexploitation. Your god wouldn’t say that they’re strong and important females? They ‘re tigresses and proud of it.”
Another was quick to point out that the dance styles emphasized by the Latina duo were emblematic of Latin culture, not ‘sexual exploitation’. “It’s showing them the Latin culture,” they tweeted. “It was amazing! Two Latina women displaying their language and culture! And reminding the US that Puerto Rico is part of the US!”
Teach your children to see a latin woman with out fetishising her. We saw empowerment of self image, acceptance of roots from -dancing to rhythms that run deep with in to embracing other world countries, to strong messages like don't put children born in America in cages
— Laydee J. Elizabeth (@jannykinsz) February 3, 2020
While it was surely an off-the-wall comment by Black, some could still ultimately see where he was coming from, especially someone that wasn’t familiar with the Latin-style of dance. “Nah that’s just Latin culture,” they wrote. “I see where you’re coming from but I can tell you they aren’t sexually exploited. It isn’t teaching kids to be sinful, it’s to show the expression of culture even if it may seem foreign and dirty to some.”
Yet, despite people coming after Black for his religious views and subsequent application to the halftime performance, some came to his defense. One Twitter use responded, “Keep your morals and values and raise your children in church and teach them the word of God and they will thank you for it. You have kept your priorities right even with fame and notoriety. May your family be blessed.”
https://twitter.com/jeanniebarefie2/status/1224193426838687745
Ironically, the movie franchise that added to Black’s notoriety and fame, The “Fast & Furious,” has been criticized for their sexist approach to women, oftentimes hyper-sexualizing some of the female characters.
Michelle Rodriguez, one of the costars, took to Instagram in 2017 to express her frustration in how female castmembers were treated on set and during filming. “F8 is out digitally today, I hope they decide to show some love to the women of the franchise on the next one,” Rodriguez wrote. “Or I just might have to say goodbye to a loved franchise. It’s been a good ride & I’m grateful for the opportunity the fans & studio have provided over the years… One Love.”
