Super Bowl Shockers: The Most Controversial Halftime Moments...

Here are some of the most controversial Super Bowl halftime moments over the years. In 2004, Justin Timberlake tore off part of Janet Jackson’s costume, briefly exposing her on live TV. The fallout pushed Congress to drastically increase fines for broadcast “indecency.” Beyoncé’s 2016 ‘Formation’ set, with Black Panther–style imagery and a political tone, drew criticism from conservatives who saw it as anti-police and anti-American. In 2014, fans noticed the Red Hot Chili Peppers’ instruments were unplugged while performing with Bruno Mars. The band later admitted the NFL forced them to mime their set to avoid any technical difficulties. Most recently in 2025, Kendrick Lamar’s halftime performance was a hit with critics, but the inclusion of his ‘Not Like Us’ diss track in the set drew widespread online criticism from Drake fans, reigniting their already tense beef.