Justin Timberlake’s Super Bowl Halftime Show: Fans and Critics Weigh in on Twitter
On Sunday’s Super Bowl LII, Justin Timberlake performed at the Pepsi Halftime show for the third time in his career. But after he took center field at the U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota for a 13-minute show, the Internet had a mixed reaction.
Yes, Timberlake has been in the biz for over 20 years and many consider him to be one of the most creative guys in Tinseltown. However, everyone is susceptible to backlash—even JT himself.
Not everyone was critical of the performance, as the singer’s celebrity friends were loving it. Ellen DeGeneres, bro-mancer Jimmy Fallon, and Demi Lovato were just a few praising the 37-year-old on Twitter during the show.
YESSSSS!!!! THAT IS HOW YOU DO IT!! Magic. Loved THAT! See you in a few. #PepsiHalftime #JustinTimberlake
— jimmy fallon (@jimmyfallon) February 5, 2018
Two words. JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE. Wow that was unreal. LEGEND. #SuperBowl
— Nick Jonas (@nickjonas) February 5, 2018
My friend @JTimberlake just killed it. #SuperBowl #JustinTimberlake pic.twitter.com/oZv0YcxsrN
— Ellen DeGeneres (@TheEllenShow) February 5, 2018
@jtimberlake still killed it tho
— Demi Lovato (@ddlovato) February 5, 2018
While some others had criticism and expected more:
So when is Justin Timberlake actually going to, you know, sing?
— Ryan Wood (@ByRyanWood) February 5, 2018
My review of Justin Timberlake’s Super Bowl Halftime Show: pic.twitter.com/agyQI3hQju
— Michael Arceneaux (@youngsinick) February 5, 2018
Lol Justin Timberlake is the cartoon representation of white male mediocrity
— Lauren Duca (@laurenduca) February 5, 2018
Send Justin to the woods and bring back Hillary
— OhNoSheTwitnt (@OhNoSheTwitnt) February 5, 2018
Justin’s performance was forgettable and just messy. Didn’t scream iconic or a highlight of a career at all. The mirror part and Can’t Stop the Feeling was cute, but that’s it
— Michael (@Chillinlaidback) February 5, 2018
i’m glad Justin doing old songs because nobody wants to hear his new songs.
— bambú. (@jellydear) February 5, 2018
And then Timberlake performed a tribute to Prince. While playing the piano, a large white sheet was raised and the late musician’s image was projected on it. Then, the camera cut to Minneapolis and the whole city was illuminated in purple light.
Timberlake spoke to Jimmy Fallon about the decision on his friend’s special late night show. “It’s a moment for me, if I’m being quite honest, because [Prince has] always been the pinnacle of musicianship for me,” he revealed. “When we decided that the serendipity and synergy that we would be in Minneapolis and that, you know, he’s such a special thing here—aside from what he is all over the world. I just felt like I wanted to do something for this city and something for him that would be the ultimate homage to what I consider the G.O.A.T. [Greatest of All Time] of musicians.”
Again, the choice received mixed reviews:
I would rather watch Prince being broadcast on a duvet cover for 15 minutes than this Justin halftime, tbh
— R. Eric Thomas (@oureric) February 5, 2018
The Prince tribute would’ve been cool… except Prince specifically said he didn’t want that, right? Even in death, Prince continues to be misunderstood.
— Adam Best (@adamcbest) February 5, 2018
Meanwhile Prince is in heaven like pic.twitter.com/lcsjAufAUF
— Jemele Hill (@jemelehill) February 5, 2018
My feeling mo mixed than a bag of party Chex.
— Gabby Sidibe (@GabbySidibe) February 5, 2018
Katy Perry did not ride a 30 foot tall golden lion, Beyoncé did NOT perform a tribute for Black Lives Matter and Lady Gaga did NOT fall off a roof for Justin Timberlake to disrespect Prince and wear a camouflage suit at the Super Bowl
— ْ (@pradacarey) February 5, 2018
And that brings us to his wardrobe choice. The best part about the outfit? Timberlake’s custom Air Jordans. For the rest of his ensemble, the “Filthy” singer wore a bizarre mix of brown camo, a shirt with woodland animals on it, and an orange bandana around his neck.
okay but why did #JustinTimberlake look like a clearance table at Bass Pro #SuperBowl pic.twitter.com/DB1tlAMwJL
— shauna (@goldengateblond) February 5, 2018
who wore it better: justin timberlake or mac os sierra? pic.twitter.com/F0J6heUkAr
— gabe bergado (@gabebergado) February 5, 2018
I like to think Justin Timberlake was like, “I’m going to the Midwest. Better wear a camo suit, elk shirt and a bandana so I fit in. That’s what they wear, right?” And no one told him no.
— Megan Raposa (@mlraposa) February 5, 2018
For a limited time, you can pick up a camo sofa to match your Justin Timberlake #PepsiHalftime replica suit: https://t.co/PQ3MZf0o2b. pic.twitter.com/y9fxroNUkx
— Raymour & Flanigan (@raymourflanigan) February 5, 2018
During his final song, JT danced his way up the stadium aisle to be among the regular folks. One of those people was a pre-teen who got to take the most epic selfie with the performer, which quickly became a meme. Selfie kid saved the show!
Is this kid a meme yet? #justintimberlake #SuperBowl #PepsiHalftime pic.twitter.com/NUV3XMGxQn
— Samantha Joy (@TVLabSam) February 5, 2018
#SuperBowl pic.twitter.com/h2myKvtJVz
— This Is Us (@NBCThisisUs) February 5, 2018
Who’s more iconic: selfie kid or left shark? #HalftimeShow pic.twitter.com/Jz4dtcRctN
— Collin Clements (@PopeClementsIV) February 5, 2018
— Jamie McCarty (@JamieMcCarty) February 5, 2018
He’s pretty famous:
AND HERE IT IS.#SelfieKid with @jtimberlake!#HalftimeSelfie#SuperBowlSelfie#SuperBowl #PepsiHalftime pic.twitter.com/Edww4CSSm7
— Good Morning America (@GMA) February 5, 2018
That was fun, but we’re ready for another female performer next year! What did you think of the halftime show? Sound off in the comments below.