Jennifer Lopez is a feminist icon who epitomizes female empowerment as a self-made multi-millionaire superstar.
However, the singer claims that a ‘woke’ British director told her she couldn’t use the female gender symbol during her Super Bowl performance.
The 52-year-old actress claims Hamish Hamilton informed her she couldn’t use the ‘contentious’ symbol in her performance, which was watched by over 200 million people around the world, because it wasn’t inclusive.
Despite the plan for the performance in February 2020 to commemorate women’s achievements, Hamilton, who was born in Blackpool, got his way.
Ms Lopez, widely known as J-Lo, discusses the behind-the-scenes squabble in her Netflix documentary Halftime, which features footage of Hamilton, 56, telling the American diva to modify her plans.
‘I’m going to definitely be argumentative here, but the only element within it [the performance] that isn’t subtle – and actually is problematic, considering everything that is going on with identity politics right now – is the female symbol,’ he’s pictured telling her.
‘I think that could be viewed by some people as being actually exclusive.’
In a reference to the symbolism being too obvious, he adds: ‘I also think that it’s a little bit on the nose.
‘It might have been something done in a Super Bowl a while back and doesn’t have the artistry. I understand the meaning behind it but what you are saying within the show is much more powerful than having that symbol out there.’
J-Lo was taken aback by Hamilton’s desire to get the emblem banned while approving of a stage play featuring caged kid dancers.
The artist, whose parents were immigrants from the Bronx, created a career that saw her sell more than 75 million records and amass a fortune worth an estimated £325 million.
J-Lo gave a pole-dancing performance to convey an image of confidence at the Super Bowl show at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, with the theme of female empowerment.
It featured some 130 dancers, mostly women, in a lively performance intended to reflect the city’s Latin culture.
Donatella Versace herself approved each of the five Versace outfits she wore during her performance. Five Primetime Emmy nominations were given to the show, which also featured Colombian superstar Shakira.
Since 2010, Hamilton has directed the Super Bowl show, which he began his career at BBC Scotland. He directed the Oscars two years ago, which were termed “the most woke ever.” Critics believe the program went to great lengths to compensate for a lack of diversity among nominations by having victors provide politically correct acceptance speeches.
Brad Pitt, Natalie Portman, and Joaquin Phoenix all made political statements on the night, which had a viewership of 23 million viewers, down 25% from the year before. Hamilton previously co-directed the opening and closing ceremonies of the London 2012 Olympics with Danny Boyle, and will be in charge of the Commonwealth Games opening ceremony in Birmingham next month.
After rekindling their relationship 19 years after calling off their first wedding, J-Lo recently became engaged to actor Ben Affleck for the second time.