Liam Gallagher's blistering critique of the World Cup final halftime show has sent shockwaves through social media, with the former Oasis frontman branding it a 'bad trip' and 'cuckoo with a capital K'. The mercurial musician's outspoken assessment is just one of many scathing reviews flooding in after the first-ever halftime extravaganza at the global football event.
The line-up was an A-list affair, featuring Coldplay's Chris Martin, alongside an all-star cast that read like a who's who of international stardom: Madonna, BTS, Justin Bieber, Shakira, Burna Boy, plus football legends Ronaldo and Ronaldinho. Even The Muppets made an appearance! It may have had it all – but Gallagher wasn't impressed, firing back on social media with 'It’s a good job I’ve got my spiritual socks on or that halftime entertainment could have tipped me over the edge.'
But amidst the sea of criticism, there was a glimmer of approval from the Oasis legend. When a fan questioned his tweet praising Justin Bieber's unexpectedly subdued acoustic performance of 'Everything Hallelujah', Gallagher firmly stood by his praise: 'Justin rules' – and it seems he's not alone in that assessment!
He wasn't, either, for former England footballer Wayne Rooney, who voiced his disappointment, calling the show 'crap'. Despite appreciating many of the performers, Rooney just didn't feel it, wanting the action back on the pitch. Even The Cure's Robert Smith had expressed reservations before the event, labelling the ideas behind the halftime show as 'mugwank'.
The big question is: will these elaborate productions pay off for host nations and broadcasters? Or will they fail to captivate global audiences, and ultimately dent viewership figures and advertising revenue?