Several groups dedicated to fighting child pornography have come out against having the Who play at the next Superbowl halftime show.
In 2003, guitarist Pete Townshend admitted he had downloaded child porn to his computer, though he claimed it was part of research he was doing to help stop the practice.
With the Who set to play the Superbowl, representatives of a group called Protect our Children and of another one known as Child AbuseWatch have warned that the show might stir controversy.
"People tune in from all over the world and they are going to get a British sex offender on their screen. Townshend taking the stage at the Super Bowl is offensive to victims. We are incensed," Kevin Gillick, president of Protect our Children, told the U.K.'s Guardian newspaper.
The NFL has responded in a letter, pointing out that Townshend has never faced criminal charges in regards to the matter.
For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com
June 05, 2026 16:18 ET A busy week for economic news flow saw a slew of reports being released that reflected the trends in the U.S. labor market. In Europe, economic growth and inflation data gained attention as the European Central Bank and Bank of England head for policy session later in the month. In Asia, the monetary policy session of the Indian central bank was in focus as the country, a major oil importer, reels under the pressures of a weaker rupee and rising inflation.