Women Topless at Football Game Could Face Ban

Two women reportedly face a police investigation and a potential spectator ban after going topless in the stands for a university football game at the weekend.

The friends had daubed themselves in body paint to cover their modesty, but were spotted during the match at the University of Utah on Saturday.

Several Twitter users claimed they had seen women with shirts "painted on" during the the Utah Utes 73-7 victory over the Southern Utah Thunderbirds.

The stunt divided opinion amongst fans.

Some found it amusing, such as Twitter user @utedaddy who posted: "I will conduct an internal investigation on reports of the multiple topless women at the Utes game. Send all pics to my DMs."

But others were horrified.

A mom who had taken her children to the game with her husband later penned a lengthy complaint on Facebook after the family "were exposed to nudity" when they saw two topless women. Melea Johnson claimed stadium and security staff had allowed the women to enter the venue without their shirts on, and declined to intervene when requested, allegedly telling her it was because they were worried about being sued "because of discriminatory laws."

Johnson, a 20-year season ticket holder who said she had been excited to take her 10-year-old son and 13-year-old daughter to her alma mater for the first time, told Newsweek: "I was shocked security did not stop them from entering the stadium. I was even more appalled that such public lewdness would be allowed at an event where there would be thousands of minors in attendance. This is not ok!

"This kind of behavior should not be allowed at events where minors are present. What happened on Saturday at the University of Utah Football Game is an issue of lewdness against minors, a Class B Misdemeanor in the state of Utah. It's that simple. As a Christian mother, I felt like I needed to create awareness of this issue so a permanent change is made to the university's policy immediately. Mothers need safe places for their children to attend without fear they will see something lewd or involving nudity of any kind—visuals that are typically only deemed appropriate for those over age 18."

She says she has been in contact with the university and the Utah Attorney General about the issue.

University spokesperson Rebecca Walsh told Newsweek the women were spotted by a female police officer, who asked them to put on their shirts and they complied.

But she said the women will now "be referred to the Dean of Students Office for potential discipline" and added the university was also liaising with detectives who would "follow up this week to screen for any potential criminal charges."

The incident comes just days after football ticket holders were warned that "unsafe or inappropriate conduct" could lead to losing "all privileges and access for future university events." The joint-letter was sent out by university President Taylor Randall and Athletics Director Mark Harlan.

It's not the first time a topless controversy has embroiled the football world. Janet Jackson was famously embroiled in a media firestorm after her breast was exposed during a dance routine with Justin Timberlake at Super Bowl LII back in 2004.

Update 13/09/22, 2:39 a.m. ET: This article was updated with comment from Melea Johnson and university spokesperson Rebecca Walsh.