Super Bowl's wildest moments from controversial nipple slip to rogue 'Left Shark' – Daily Star

As NFL fans eagerly await the 2025 Super Bowl, many viewers are also looking forward to the halftime show. That’s usually when all the unexpected moments happen and explains why the mega sports event draws in over 100 million viewers each year.
This year, the Kansas City Chiefs will face off against the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LIX which will take place on February 9, 2025, at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana.
The highly anticipated event marks a rematch of Super Bowl LVII from two years earlier, in which the Chiefs defeated the Eagles, 38–35 at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.
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Rapper Kendrick Lamar, who previously co-headlined the Super Bowl LVI halftime show in 2022, will return to the stage as the main act, with Grammy-winning artist SZA joining him as a special guest.
In 2024, Super Bowl LVII’s halftime show was electrified by global sensation Usher, who captivated millions of viewers with his timeless hits and undeniable stage presence.
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As excitement builds for this year’s Super Bowl halftime performance, Daily Star reflects on some of the most memorable and controversial moments from past shows.
During 2004’s Super Bowl XXXVIII halftime show, Justin Timberlake and Jackson took to the stage at the Reliant Stadium in Houston, Texas. Their concert become one of the most infamous moments in live television history.
At the time, Justin exposed Janet’s right breast, adorned with a nipple shield, to millions of viewers. The pair were performing Justin’s hit "Rock Your Body". As the singer belted out the line "Bet I’ll have you naked by the end of this song," Justin pulled off a piece of Janet’s costume.
This incident, often referred to as "Nipplegate" or "Janetgate," sparked an immediate backlash, prompting a crackdown on broadcast decency and igniting widespread debate over what constitutes indecency on live television.
Prince’s 2007 Super Bowl XLI halftime show included a guitar solo on Purple Rain that some say was so memorable it was like a movie. The show also featured covers of songs by Creedence Clearwater Revival, Bob Dylan, and the Foo Fighters.
Nevertheless, some questioned whether Prince’s guitar was really just his guitar during his iconic performance. In the midst of the artist’s rendition of hit song Purple Rain, his shadow was projected onto a large beige sheet during his guitar solo.
The spotlight cast a silhouette that many viewers at home found to have suggestive, almost phallic connotations, leaving millions of fans stunned.
British rapper M.I.A. performed a middle finger gesture during the 2012 Super Bowl halftime show, which led to a legal battle with the NFL. Taking to the Super Bowl XLVI stage at the Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, M.I.A. performed Madonna‘s Give Me All Your Luvin’.
During her performance, she unexpectedly proceeded to flip the middle finger to the cameras and was subsequently sued by the NFL for breach of contract. The NFl further demanded $16.6 million in damages.
While M.I.A. later defended her actions, claiming the gesture was a spiritual gesture to the Hindu goddess Matangi, the NFL and the artist settled the dispute.
Mark Roberts, a British streaker with a knack for making an entrance, pulled off one of his most memorable stunts at 2004 Super Bowl XXXVIII in Houston, Texas. Just before the second half kicked off, Mark—disguised as a referee—sprinted onto the field, stripped down, and delivered an impromptu dance while sporting nothing but a thong.
His bold performance was cut short when he was tackled by players from the Carolina Panthers and New England Patriots, promptly taken into custody, and slapped with a $1,000 trespassing fine.
During a Super Bowl XLII press event in 2008, Mexican reporter Inés Gómez Mont made headlines when she proposed to at-the-time New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady. Inés, who was dressed in a white wedding gown and flowing veil, was politely turned down.
Tom, who was dating Brazilian supermodel Gisele Bündchen at the time (and would marry her the following year), told her, "No, I’m a one-woman man. But you’re beautiful. Anybody who would have the opportunity to marry you would be a lucky man."
In case you’re curious about what became of the reporter, she’s found herself tangled in a high-profile embezzlement scandal involving millions of pesos and was later found on the run with the man who did say "yes"—her husband.
The Indiana Jones and the Temple of the Forbidden Eye halftime show, which took place during Super Bowl XXIX in 1995, went down in history as one of the most cringeworthy moments in Super Bowl entertainment. Criticised by both IGN and USA Today, the spectacle was dubbed the "worst halftime show ever."
USA Today even went so far as to call it the "most embarrassing" moment of the Indiana Jones franchise. The Indiana Jones halftime show was produced by Disney and was designed to promote the upcoming Indiana Jones Adventure attraction at Disneyland.
Beyoncé, Kelly Rowland, and Michelle Williams reunited on the Super Bowl XLVII halftime stage in 2013, delivering a long-awaited comeback of Destiny’s Child. While Beyoncé was singing, Kelly and Michelle emerged from the stage to the delight of thousands of fans.
Queen Bey later reflected on the iconic performance, telling CBS at the time, "It’s one of those magical performances you can’t recreate… I wanted it to be something iconic and something that people would never forget."
The iconic trio performed a medley of Bootylicious and Independent Women, with Beyoncé acknowledging, "I couldn’t do this without bringing Kelly and Michelle. It’s a part of my legacy."
Super Bowl XLVII, held in New Orleans on February 3, 2013, became infamous for a dramatic 34-minute blackout that temporarily plunged the Mercedes-Benz Superdome into darkness. What was meant to be a historic game featuring the Baltimore Ravens and the San Francisco 49ers, quickly turned into a bizarre and unforgettable spectacle.
The lights went out midway through the third quarter, leaving over 71,000 fans in the dark, with escalators and credit card machines shutting down and the game grinding to a halt. The blackout occurred despite power company Entergy having upgraded the stadium’s electrical system, ESPN reported at the time.
Once the lights flickered back on, the 49ers narrowed a 22-point deficit to just two, but the Ravens held on to win 34-31.
At Super Bowl XLIX in 2015, Katy Perry’s halftime performance was overshadowed by an unexpected viral sensation—Left Shark. While Katy dazzled with hits like Teenage Dream, one of her dancers, clad in an enormous blue shark costume, became the internet’s new favourite meme.
As the Dark Horse hitmaker’s other shark dancer moved with precision, Left Shark flailed about wildly, seemingly out of sync with the music. Netizens subsequently flooded social media with memes making fun of the show.
At Super Bowl LVI in 2022, Dr Dre and his hip-hop royalty crew turned the halftime show into a cultural moment. Held at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, Dr Dre and Snoop Dogg kicked off the set with The Next Episode, surrounded by dancers and a house-like stage that created a block party vibe.
Joining them were surprise guest 50 Cent, along with Mary J. Blige, Kendrick Lamar, and Eminem, each bringing their own hits to the stage. The concert was a history-making moment as it marked the first hip-hop halftime show in Super Bowl history.

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