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NFL fans slammed Colombian music star Manuel Turizo for his "disgusting" halftime show during Sunday's game between the Atlanta Falcons and Cincinnati Bengals in Spain, as the 26-year-old repeatedly grabbed his groin.
The NFL's latest attempts to grow the game overseas have taken it to Madrid, Spain, where the iconic 83,186-capacity Bernabéu has been chosen as the venue for the Week 9 clash between the Falcons and Bengals.
In a highly entertaining game in the Spanish capital, it was the latter who emerged victorious, with the Bengals moving to 6-2 on the year with a 34-17 win as Joe Burrow and Ja'Marr Chase proved unstoppable for the Falcons, who dropped to 3-6.
American viewers tuning in from home on Sunday morning, however, weren't quite as impressed with the entertainment on offer midway through the match, as Turizo took the stage to showcase his signature fusion of reggaeton, pop, and tropical sounds.
In fact, it wasn't the Colombian's songs that proved to be the issue; rather, it was his actions whilst on stage, as many fans pointed out the over-the-top grabbing of his groin during his performance.
Stunned fans took to social media to express their disgust, particularly as it was something they found themselves subject to on a Sunday morning, with one critic even blasting the half-time show performance as the worst they'd ever seen.
"'Worst halftime show I've ever seen. NFL this is disgraceful and disgusting," the fan fumed on X.
"Why on a Sunday morning am I watching an NFL halftime show with a guy grabbing his junk every 30 seconds?" questioned another
A third fan wrote, "Wonderful. We have c----- grabbing during the halftime show," while a fourth added, "Dude grabbed his junk like eight times in 10 seconds. I don't think football fans want this."
An equally disgusted fan even suggested that the halftime show might as well have had pole dancing, given the explicit nature of Turizo's performance, stating: "So disgusting. It's questionable whether kids should even attend NFL games anymore."
Ironically, concerts at the stadium have been suspended since 2024 following complaints from neighbors about excessive noise, with the Bernabéu located in an upscale residential neighborhood.
Elsewhere in the match, a slight malfunction occurred when all the lights inside the stadium turned off late in the Bengals' win over the Falcons, providing an embarrassing moment for the NFL on its second visit to Spain.
Late in the fourth quarter, darkness took hold, aside from some small light fixtures that seemed to remain on at the Bernabéu, though thankfully it did not last long; after just a few seconds, the hosts got the lights back on.