Kendrick Lamar slammed for ‘worst halftime show ever’ during Super Bowl 2025 performance before swipe at rival Drake
Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl halftime performance in New Orleans on Sunday sparked criticism from some fans, with some calling it the “worst halftime show ever.”
Fresh off his Grammy wins, the 37-year-old rapper didn’t seem to carry that momentum into his set at the Caesars Superdome, where he performed before the Philadelphia Eagles’ loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.
Lamar, a Pulitzer Prize winner, showcased his lyrical skill by starting his performance atop a car before aiming at his hip-hop rival Drake, 38.
Despite Drake recently suing Lamar’s record label, Universal Music Group, over the controversial diss track Not Like Us—which refers to Drake as a “certified pedophile”—Kendrick still performed the song, though he omitted the explicit word.
However, he included two other controversial lines: “Say Drake, I hear you like them young” and “trying to strike a chord and it’s probably a minor,” as the crowd enthusiastically sang along.
The performance featured a surprise introduction from actor Samuel L. Jackson, 76, who appeared dressed as “Uncle Sam.” Lamar performed a medley of his hits before being joined onstage by R&B singer SZA, 35.
Adding another subtle jab, Kendrick wore a silver chain with a small letter “a,” seemingly referencing “A minor,” a nod to the song’s lyrics.
His diss track Not Like Us, which accused Drake of inappropriate behavior, won a Grammy for Record of the Year and Song of the Year last weekend.
Originally released in May, the viral track included explosive allegations, which Drake denied in his rebuttal song The Heart Part 6, stating, “My name ain’t one you gon’ see on no sex offender list.”
Meanwhile, tennis champion Serena Williams—who was once linked to Drake—was spotted dancing during Kendrick’s performance of Not Like Us.
At one point during the charged performance, a man with a Palestine flag tried to storm the halftime show but was intercepted by security.
Fans inside the stadium saw the drama unfold but TV cameras didn’t show it to viewers.
Kendrick rocked a blue and white jacket, a black shirt, blue jeans, and a backward hat.
He was joined by a crew of backup dancers who formed an American flag while dressed in red, white, and blue.
At one point during the performance Jackson returned, and told the crowd: ‘Too loud, too reckless, too ghetto. Mr. Lamar, do you really know how to play the game?’
Lamar perfumed wacced out murals, Bodies, Squabble, Euphoria, Humble, DNA, Man at the Garden, and Peekaboo by himself before he was joined by SZA.
The duo performed their collabs Luther and All the Stars. SZA wowed in an all-red look.
He finished off his performance with the song Tv Off.
Fans blasted the show on social media, with one writing, ‘worst halftime show ever not a fan.’
‘I genuinely can’t tell if I’m being biased against Kendrick but I think this is the worst halftime show I’ve seen in a minute,’ another added.
‘I thought The Weekend was bad but Kendrick Lamar took that spot! Worst halftime show ever!’
‘So far the best part of the halftime show is Samuel L Jackson,’ another complained.
‘Somehow Kendrick is worse than the game itself.’
‘This halftime show at The Super Bowl by Kendrick Lamar is hot garbage… Worst of all time…’ another wrote.
The night ended with the Philadelphia Eagles destroying the Kansas City Chiefs 40-22.
Lamar’s song Not Like Us became a viral sensation over the summer as the two artists sparred.
The hit diss song has been the subject of litigation from the Canadian rapper, who recently filed a defamation lawsuit against Universal Music Group. In the track, Drake is referred to as a ‘certified pedophile.’
In the federal defamation lawsuit filed earlier this month, the Canadian rapper sued Universal Music Group for spreading the ‘false and malicious narrative’ that he is a pedophile.
Drake says in court documents that UMG knew Lamar’s diss track would include lyrics and images in a music video that referred to him as a pedophile.
He also accused UMG of allowing the ‘inflammatory and shocking allegations’ because the song was a ‘gold mine’ for the company.
