NFL Regrets Kendrick Lamar Disaster—Major Changes Coming To Super Bowl Halftime Show After Backlash!
Super Bowl LIX halftime show was hugely controversial
Kendrick LamarLAPRESSE
The NFL is reportedly rethinking its decision to choose Kendrick Lamar over Lil Wayne for the 2025 Super Bowl halftime show.
The underwhelming response to Lamar’s performance has led insiders to express regret, especially after the league issued an apology to Lil Wayne for overlooking him in favor of the Grammy-winning rapper.
The NFL’s apology to Lil Wayne
Back in September, the NFL made waves by selecting Kendrick Lamar to headline the 2025 halftime show, but this decision quickly drew criticism-particularly from fans in New Orleans, who were hoping for a performance by Lil Wayne, the city’s most iconic rapper.
In response to the backlash, the NFL reportedly sent a formal apology to Lil Wayne, acknowledging the misstep and expressing regret for not choosing him for the prestigious gig.
“Lil Wayne should have been the first option,” an NFL insider told The U.S. Sun, citing the rapper’s strong ties to New Orleans and his passion for delivering a unique performance in his hometown.
The league’s second thoughts became clear when a staffer admitted that they should have selected Lil Wayne for the performance.
“It would have taken a couple of minutes to finalize, and Lil Wayne would have been thrilled to perform in his hometown,” the insider explained.
The insider further emphasized that the NFL is now committed to ensuring that future halftime shows feature artists who have a deeper connection to the city where the game is held.
“New Orleans is the city of Lil Wayne. It would have been fantastic to have him perform and feel the love from his hometown.”
The league now acknowledges that the decision to go with Lamar was a mistake, and they’re determined not to repeat it in the future.
Lil Wayne has been open about his disappointment in not being selected, revealing during an Instagram Live session that it “hurt a whole lot” to miss out on the opportunity to perform in front of his home crowd. He also admitted that he hadn’t prepared himself for the letdown.
Meanwhile, Lamar’s performance didn’t come without controversy. During his set, the rapper performed Not Like Us, a song that included a controversial diss track aimed at rival Drake. Though Lamar avoided singing the word “pedophile” in the lyrics, he still performed lines that many fans found unsettling.
Adding to the drama, Lamar wore a 1.2 million dollar necklace featuring 515 diamonds, including a lowercase “a,” which some believe was a subtle jab at Drake. Sources close to Lamar revealed that the rapper was caught by surprise by the attention to his jewelry, but was adamant about delivering his message without censorship.
Though Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl halftime performance will be remembered for its bold moments and controversies, it seems the NFL has learned from its decision.
The league now recognizes the value of selecting artists with a deep connection to the host city, as demonstrated by the overwhelming support for Lil Wayne in New Orleans. As the NFL moves forward, many will be watching closely to see if they make better choices for future halftime shows.
