Super Bowl 59 may not have delivered the best game ever — the Philadelphia Eagles curb-stomped the Kansas City Chiefs by a final score of 40-22. But fans were treated to a poignant halftime show performance by rapper Kendrick Lamar.
However, one piece of the meticulously choreographed show didn’t go according to plan, and now the performer behind the incident has been handed down a swift and harsh punishment by the NFL.
NFL Bans Super Bowl Halftime Performer Following Political Protest
In a report from journalist Alex Andrejev of The Athletic, it was revealed that one Super Bowl Halftime Show performer was banned from all future NFL events and games for life after displaying a pro-Sudan and Gaza flag towards the end of Lamar’s performance. The performer was protesting the ongoing wars in the Middle East.
As Andrejev explained: “The individual was seen holding the flag while standing on a car used as a main prop after Lamar performed ‘Not Like Us.’ The words ‘Sudan’ and ‘Gaza’ were written on the white portion of the flag, which also had a heart and fist on it.”
“Security personnel detained the individual, according to the NFL, which said that ‘no one involved with the production was aware of the individual’s intent,'” the journalist said.
The NFL said the person was part of the 400-member field cast and had hidden the flag on himself before the halftime show began Sunday night. https://t.co/fqS2BvjLDJ
— The State Journal-Register (@SJRbreaking) February 10, 2025
Video from social media shows the individual being tackled and detained by security personnel at the game. The producer of the show, Roc Nation, vehemently denied any association with the performer and claimed the protest wasn’t planned nor practiced in any rehearsal.
As for Lamar’s performance during the show, the rapper made notable history with his Super Bowl 59 act. The first solo hip-hop artist to headline the halftime show, he turned the stage into a bold, visually striking statement. And yes, he performed “Not Like Us.”
Lamar kicked things off atop the GNX car from his latest album cover, setting the tone for a setlist packed with hits like “Humble,” “DNA,” “Peekaboo,” and “All the Stars.” As he launched into “Humble,” dancers around him formed an American flag. SZA joined him for “Luther” and “All the Stars,” adding to the night’s star power.
And then came the moment everyone was waiting for. His feud with fellow hip-hop artist Drake loomed large, and fans weren’t sure if Lamar would utilize the Grammy-winning single. But before “Not Like Us” dropped, he teased, “I want to play their favorite song, but you know they love to sue.”
Before the show, Lamar spoke about hip-hop’s impact: “It reminds me of the essence and the core response of rap and hip-hop and how far it can go. So for me, that s**t means everything, because it puts the culture on the forefront where it needs to be and not minimized to just a catchy song or verse.”