Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show: Kendrick Lamar omits ‘paedophile’ line, brings out Samuel L. Jackson, Serena Williams and SZA

NZ Herald

10 Feb, 2025 04:51 AM3 mins to read

Kendrick Lamar performs during the Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show at Caesars Superdome. Photo / Getty Images

Grammy Award winner Kendrick Lamar performed a toned-down version of his infamous Drake diss track Not Like Us at the Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show on Monday, choosing to omit the line branding his fellow rapper a “certified paedophile” at the event in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Lamar, 37, was the first solo rap act to headline a Super Bowl halftime show and did it in the midst of a heated defamation suit over Not Like Us aimed at Lamar’s label Universal Music Group.

Despite omitting the "certified paedophile" line, Lamar did include two other phrases targeting Drake, including “Say Drake, I hear you like them young” and “trying to strike a chord and it’s probably a minor”.

Kendrick Lamar's Full Super Bowl Halftime Show performance #SuperBowl pic.twitter.com/OxZED0YXDn
— popculture (@notgwendalupe) February 10, 2025

The performance also included plenty of symbolism and subtle digs at Drake, with special appearances from Samuel L. Jackson, Serena Williams and SZA.

Jackson took on the role of an Uncle Sam-type character with a few lines of dialogue, scrutinising Lamar when he played newer material and encouraging him to stick to his hits.

“Too loud, too reckless, too ghetto,” he screamed when a newer song came on.

Samuel L. Jackson and Kendrick Lamar are seen on stage during the Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show. Photo / Getty Images

Williams, who reportedly dated Drake in the early 2010s, also briefly danced on stage during Not Like Us in a move many fans believed was an intentional dig.

Another special guest came in the form of SZA, who performed the duet Luther with Lamar as well as their 2018 Black Panther soundtrack song All the Stars.

The setting featured an expansive lit-up floor featuring X and O symbols, as well as back-up dancers dressed in red, white and blue who formed patterns around the rapper.

Kendrick Lamar performs with his back-up dancers dressed in red, white and blue. Photo / Getty Images

“I want to perform their favourite song, but you know they love to sue,” Lamar teased midway through the performance before launching into Not Like Us.

Reaction from fans online was mixed, some praising Lamar for the artistic display satirising America while others scrutinised his choices.

Drake and Kendrick Lamar have been feuding through their music, but now it has reached the courts. Photo / Getty Images

“Instead of him using this stage to properly promote his music & introduce himself to new fans, he made the biggest moment of his career about DrakeE,” one X, formerly Twitter, user said.

“Kendrick literally protested, and taunted America in front of the President during America’s biggest sports event. Chefs kiss,” another said.

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Lamar won five Grammys at last week’s ceremony for Not Like Us, including Best Rap Performance, Best Rap Song, Best Music Video, Record of the Year and Song of the Year.

Drake is currently touring Australia and is yet to publicly comment on the performance.