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Super Bowl fans praise the Weeknd’s stunning halftime show

The Weeknd’s visually stunning Super Bowl halftime show has wowed fans, but one star didn’t love it, taking a vicious swipe at the performance.

Bella Fowler
3 min read
February 8, 2021 - 1:58PM
Super Bowl LV: The Weeknd opens halftime show with 'Starboy'

The Weeknd has finally graced the Super Bowl stage — and it was a stage like no other.

Music fans had been patiently awaiting the halftime show, which promised to be an extravagant affair after the Grammy-winner splashed $9 million of his own money to perfect the setting.

It comes after some were confused by the choice of performer given the star’s X-rated song lyrics.

In terms of aesthetics, his performance — which was intended to be more of a “cinematic experience” — certainly didn’t disappoint.

But not everyone was into it, with Queer Eye’s Karamo Brown calling the show “disappointing and unfulfilling”.

RELATED: Follow our live coverage of the Super Bowl

Opening to an epic Vegas-inspired neon set, the star, seated in a sports car, stunned fans as the stage parted and he launched into mega hit Starboy.

It’s clear the singer spared no expense on special effects as fans were treated to a tantalising visual display including pyrotechnics and a spectacular (and slightly dizzying) all-gold house of mirrors-style moment.

The Weeknd suddenly entered a bright gold room for one section of the show, with his face eerily distorted in the camera. Picture: Channel 7
The Weeknd suddenly entered a bright gold room for one section of the show, with his face eerily distorted in the camera. Picture: Channel 7
The Weeknd's stage set up was epic. Picture: Channel 7
The Weeknd's stage set up was epic. Picture: Channel 7

Behind him was an ensemble of sequined violinists and dancers dotting the cityscape stage design, and when it came to his hit I Can’t Feel My Face, dozens of bandaged up doppelgangers danced around him.

The 30-year-old decided his own face was good enough for his big live gig, rather than the odd prosthetics and makeup he’s been donning throughout his latest album’s release.

Elsewhere in the performance, a number of masked dancers in red blazers took to the field for a wild rendition of upbeat banger Blinding Lights.

Very 2021- appropriate costumes here. Picture: Channel 7
Very 2021- appropriate costumes here. Picture: Channel 7
We can see where the $9 million went …
We can see where the $9 million went …

Over on Twitter, fans praised the opulent display:

Others mocked some of the stylistic choices, with a new meme emerging from the show:

Others inevitably compared it to last year’s iconic, raunchy JLo and Shakira display:

But Queer Eye’s Karamo Brown was the most critical — tweeting a scathing review of the performance.

“Just like every #Weekend in 2020 we all prayed it would be fun & exciting but we were all left in our house’s feeling disappointed and unfulfilled. #Justsayin,” he wrote.

Ouch.

PRE-SHOW ENTERTAINMENT

Super Bowl fans sparked super spreader fears early at today’s momentous event, pulling their face masks down to sing along with the pre-show entertainment.

The event, held at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida, saw before kick-off performances by Grammy-winning singer H. E. R, who sang America The Beautiful, as well as the national anthem performed by Eric Church and Jazmine Sullivan.

Both performances saw passionate sports fans leap to their feet and momentarily ditch their masks, amid fears the event will be a source of mass coronavirus

H.E.R. performs America The Beautiful before kick off. Picture: Getty Images.
H.E.R. performs America The Beautiful before kick off. Picture: Getty Images.
Some fans couldn’t resist ripping their masks down and singing along …
Some fans couldn’t resist ripping their masks down and singing along …
These two fans seemed to momentarily forget about the pandemic. Picture: Channel 7.
These two fans seemed to momentarily forget about the pandemic. Picture: Channel 7.

Authorities and health experts have warned America’s COVID-19 crisis could be “twice as bad” as when it peaked after this weekend.

As the US rounds the corner of a “dark and deadly winter”, experts have warned of the tremendous risk posed by Super Bowl today and the widespread gatherings potentially held in its honour, urging Americans not to turn it into a super spreader event.

With more transmissible “mutant” variants of COVID-19 circulating, the nation’s top infectious diseases expert, Dr Anthony Fauci, was blunt when asked on Good Morning America last week if people should hold parties to celebrate the game.

“I mean, watch the Super Bowl on TV, enjoy it. Have a party in your house with your family with the people who are there,” he said.

“But you don’t want parties with people that you haven’t had much contact with, you just don’t know if they’re infected. So as difficult as that is, at least this time around, just lay low and cool it.”

Meanwhile, fans have been eagerly awaiting a halftime performance by The Weeknd. Others, however, are still unimpressed with the choice, after last year’s incredible JLo and Shakira show.

We will be recapping the performance right here.

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Original URL: https://www.news.com.au/entertainment/music/super-bowl-fans-have-already-been-spotted-without-masks-at-the-first-performances-of-the-day/news-story/f0351b8531fceaea3c35d7c8c2be99c7