NFL fans criticized Colombian music star Manuel Turizo for his "disgusting" halftime performance during Sunday's matchup between the Atlanta Falcons and Cincinnati Bengals in Spain, as the 26-year-old repeatedly grabbed his groin. The NFL's ongoing efforts to expand the game internationally have brought it to Madrid, Spain, where the legendary 83,186-capacity Bernabéu was selected as the host venue for the Week 9 showdown between the Falcons and Bengals.

In a thrilling contest in the Spanish capital, it was the latter who came out on top, with the Bengals improving to 6-2 on the season with a 34-17 victory as Joe Burrow and Ja'Marr Chase proved too much for the Falcons, who fell to 3-6. American viewers watching from home on Sunday morning, however, were far less impressed with the entertainment provided during the intermission, as Turizo performed to display his distinctive blend of reggaeton, pop, and tropical rhythms.

In reality, it wasn't the Colombian's music that sparked controversy; instead, it was his behavior while performing, as numerous fans highlighted the excessive groin-grabbing throughout his set. It comes after Rob Gronkowski hit back at "narratives" after backlash over Turning Point visit.

Shocked fans flocked to social media to voice their disapproval, especially given it occurred on a Sunday morning, with one critic even condemning the halftime show as the worst they'd ever witnessed.

"'Worst halftime show I've ever seen. NFL this is disgraceful and disgusting," the fan raged on X. "Why on a Sunday morning am I watching an NFL halftime show with a guy grabbing his junk every 30 seconds?" one viewer questioned.

Another fan expressed frustration, writing, "Wonderful. We have crotch grabbing during the halftime show," while yet another observed, "Dude grabbed his junk like eight times in 10 seconds. I don't think football fans want this."

One particularly displeased viewer even suggested that the halftime show might as well have had pole dancing, given the explicit nature of Turizo's performance, commenting: "So disgusting. It's questionable whether kids should even attend NFL games anymore."

In a twist of irony, live concerts at the venue have been halted since 2024 after local residents complained about noise levels, as the Bernabéu sits within an affluent residential area.

Beyond the halftime controversy, a technical glitch occurred when the stadium's lighting system completely shut down during the closing moments of the Bengals' victory over the Falcons, creating an awkward situation for the NFL during its second Spanish appearance.

Deep into the final quarter, the venue plunged into near-total darkness, save for a handful of emergency fixtures that stayed illuminated at the Bernabéu. Fortunately, the disruption proved brief, with full lighting restored within moments.