The Super Bowl has a long history of trotting out massive names for 15 minutes of high-throttle shenanigans, stunts, and awe-worthy escapades. Just check out the headliners of recent history: Shakira and Jennifer Lopez. Bruno Mars and Beyoncé. The Weeknd and several mirrors. Look at all that history, reflected in all those mirrors. But this year, the Super Bowl LVI Halftime Show laid all its cards on the table the minute the lights dimmed. Touting an insane line up, this year's slate included Mary J. Blige, Eminem, Dr. Dre, Kendrick Lamar, and Snoop Dogg. Hip-hop royalty, if you will.
While the game between the Los Angeles Rams and the Cincinnati Bengals was already something to celebrate (alongside Mickey Guyton's phenomenal National Anthem), the pop culture obsessives knew this halftime show would be something to marvel at, because it's not often that you get this many genre icons on stage at once. Performing a medley of hits including "Snoop D.O. Double G," "Dancery", and "Lose Yourself," the fivesome made good on their prolific status. That's not even including the appearances of Fifty Cent and Anderson.Paak. Finally, Mary J Blige wins—no more drama.
The good people of social media took note of the momentous occasion with their own slate of reactions and memes. (Because if you watched something on television and didn't post about it online, how would anyone know that you watched it in the first place?)
These are the best reactions to the Super Bowl LVI halftime show. May we all celebrate being alive at the same time as this jam-packed performance.
Justin Kirkland is a Brooklyn-based writer who covers culture, food, and the South. Along with Esquire, his work has appeared in NYLON, Vulture, and USA Today.
