Kendrick Lamar sent a strong message to Drake with his widely-praised Super Bowl LIX halftime show, but a performer who attempted to make an even bigger statement during the spectacle is not enjoying the same warm reception.
Towards the end of the scintillating 13-minute set, as Kendrick was closing things out with a triumphant rendition of “TV Off,” a backup dancer pulled out and waved a combined Sudanese and Palestinian flag.
The custom flag also featured the words “Sudan” and “Gaza” along with a love heart and a raised fist, a show of support for the two war-torn regions.
According to the Associated Press, the NFL confirmed that the protestor was part of Kendrick’s 400-strong field cast.
However, the league added that “no one involved with the production was aware of the individual’s intent” and they “hid the item on [their] person” before unveiling it late in the show.
Roc Nation, the JAY-Z-founded entertainment company which produced the halftime show, also said that the move “was neither planned nor part of the production and was never in any rehearsal.”
A man performing during the Kendrick Lamar halftime concert at #SuperBowl LIX unfurled a Palestinian flag and was chased off stage and finally tackled and removed by security. #SBLIX #Palestine pic.twitter.com/sU8jl1eyE3
— Diya TV (@DiyaTV) February 10, 2025
The man, whose identity has yet to be revealed, was eventually tackled by security and dragged away from the stage.
The repercussions have been sharp and swift, with a spokesperson for the NFL announcing that “the individual will (be) banned for life from all NFL stadiums and events.”
The New Orleans Police Department also said that they are “working to determine applicable charges in this incident.”
Aside from the impromptu political protest, Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl halftime show made headlines for its many shots aimed at his archrival Drake.
The Compton rap star referenced their bitter feud throughout the performance, including taunting him over his defamation lawsuit against Universal Music Group over Kendrick’s hit diss song “Not Like Us.”
“I want to perform their favorite song… but you know they love to sue,” he said in a playful back-and-forth with a group of female backup dancers, teasing a performance of “Not Like Us” which had been the subject of much debate leading up to the show.
During the eventual performance of the track, Kendrick self-censored the “certified pedophile” line but smirked to the camera as he rapped: “Say Drake, I hear you like ’em young / You better not ever go to cell block one / To any [bitch] that talk to him and they in love / Just make sure you hide your lil’ sister from him.”
He also performed the lyrics: “Tryna strike a chord and it’s probably A minor,” with enthusiastic help from the capacity crowd.
The halftime show also included a surprise cameo from Drake’s ex-girlfriend and Compton native Serena Williams, who could be seen Crip Walking on an elevated stage as “Not Like Us” transitioned into “TV Off.”
Another subliminal dig at Drizzy came at the very end when the crowd lit up to display the words “Game Over,” which continued the video game theme of the theatrical performance.
F ck any and all terrorist sympathizers . Security should’ve beat the dog sh!t out his punk ass
The USA is the biggest terrorist state, so fuck you. All your presidents from trump to obama, from jfk to bush should be beaten.
@mac Aren’t you the Diddy sympathizer? Not surprising that you support Hamas too. Go get lubed up, Diddy’s ready for his visit now
@mac I am willing to bet you live in the US. The greatest country on Earth I might add. If you don’t like it here, you can leave. You can catch a flight on one of the many planes ICE is putting illegals on.
You are the terrorist, i hope one day u will experience the same thing and some country take over your land pussy ass
Shame on the NFL. Why they mad, cause they made money from the weapons used to kill innocent civilians?
Where’s the freedom of speech? Yall have the KKK marching on avenues and the Proud Boys walking on the Capitol talking and screaming a lot of racist and misogynist non sense without having to worry about getting arrested. But when someone just wave a flag to draw the public’s attention about a current genocide everybody is jumping him and talking about criminal charges. FOH
Your dumb ass really thinks that backup dancers are just allowed to go off script and make their own political statements? Especially with such a volatile situation? Are you really this slow ?
The people that stormed the capital got arrested, spent time in jail and got released.
And pardoned.
What is it that the Libs usually say? Oh, build your own Super Bowl.
Are you retarded dude? That’s like saying “it’s against my freedom of speech because my employer won’t let me say racist things to customers!!!”. Quit being a retard. People protesting on public property is a right. Protesting on private property isn’t a right, for obvious reasons (you likely don’t own property so will never understand)
‘property’ easy to tell when your impersonating @Jay still doing this stuff huh 😂
Did Serena forget that she’s a millionaire in her 40s married to a white man? So disrespectful to her dead sister who was murdered by Compton crips for her to be out there crip walking like that. Very Cringe.
Tasteless – dumbass who is off topic.
Crip walking isn’t solely for the Crip’s. Bloods & Pyros also do the dance dawg.
Stop lying and pushing false narratives. Stop doing Elon’s and Trump’s work for them.
I think pyros only dance in flames.
And yall just can’t stop talking about Trump. Like the obsession is getting a bit weird.
I can’t wait until Trump opens his golf course and casino in the Gaza Strip lol
Yeah and hopefully it gets bombed while he’s playing
@Go Trump’s your Daddy for the next 4 years , Cope & seethe, little guy
And bang your mom on that golf course
Is Drake still a peterfile? Cause they’re saying he used to smash both Serena and Sza and both of them were of age. Serena is 5 years older than him. Is Kendrick a liar? I thought he said Drake liked them young? Seems like he contradicted himself again?
Give it a rest Ovo, Drake isn’t going to fvck you
We American over here. The only flag that should be waved and shown is the red, white and blue. If you give a shit about what’s going on in Sudan and Palestine, fly yo ass over there and march with them. Blacks and these simp ass Liberals will march and debate you day and night about shit going in other countries but do absolutely nothing to improve your own neighborhoods.
bitch ass, what the fuck did u do to IRAQ ? VIETNAM ? PAKISTAN ? AFGHANISTAN ? SYRIA ?
bitch u are all over the world, so we’re coming for your asses
Disgusting on how hard the establishment comes down on someone begging to end the massacre of civilians.
Gross.
You got all that from him waiving a flag? Many of the Palestine/Hamas supporters celebrated 10/7 and try to make the hostages out to be the bad guys. They also say “death to Israel and America “. Fuck him and the goats that he fucks
we still celebrating.. dumb ass american, u think the ish started on 7th october ? go learn history crody
This should wake you up Kendrick is a massive fraud who only wanted to stroke his own ego
I don’t understand the love for gaza. they are funded by iran who is an enemy of the US. hamas terrorists, who were in gaza, flew in and killed 1700 innocent people. i do not and will not ever feel bad for them. honestly i don’t care about sudan either. they have been at war for decades.
Becuase your evil,
The glazing of Kendrick is crazy over this. He’s a liar and bigot and many see it. Notice he has white people going after a someone who supports Palestine he’s a pianist enabler signed to them maybe now everyone wakes up don’t support this
Nuke gaza, fuck outta here.
Start at your moms house plz