A performer involved in Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl halftime show was detained on the field after raising a combined Sudan-Palestine flag during the performance. The individual, who was part of the 400-member field cast, stood atop a car used as a prop, holding up the flag with “Sudan” and “Gaza” written across it.
The NFL confirmed the performer’s involvement in the show but stated that neither the league nor the production team was aware of the act beforehand. According to an official statement, the flag had been hidden and was only unveiled during the live performance. As a result, the person now faces a lifetime ban from all NFL stadiums and events.
The New Orleans Police Department is currently investigating the incident and determining whether any charges will be filed. “Law enforcement is working to determine applicable charges in this incident,” the department said in a statement.
Roc Nation, the entertainment company responsible for producing the halftime show, distanced itself from the protest, emphasizing that it was not planned or rehearsed at any point.
The performance itself proceeded without disruption, and it appeared that the protestor was not visible in the televised broadcast of Lamar’s set.
Also, read: Ghana’s National Security Seizes Stash of US Dollars, Gold Bars, and Counterfeit Currency in Warehouse Bust
Lamar’s show at the Superdome in New Orleans was introduced by actor Samuel L. Jackson, who appeared in a top hat, portraying Uncle Sam. Dancers dressed in red, white, and blue emerged from a Buick Grand National GNX, a nod to Lamar’s latest album, “GNX.”
The rapper performed several of his hits, including “Squabble Up” and “DNA.” At one point, he teased playing “Not Like Us,” a track that recently stirred controversy due to its lyrics. The song had been the subject of a defamation lawsuit filed by Canadian rapper Drake against Universal Music Group.
While performing the track, Lamar notably skipped the word “paedophiles”—replacing it with a scream—but still included a controversial line referencing “A minor,” which the crowd sang along to.
“Not Like Us” won five Grammy Awards a week prior, bringing Lamar’s career total to 22 Grammys.
The Super Bowl halftime show has long been a platform for some of music’s biggest names, from Beyoncé and Prince to Madonna and the Rolling Stones. With the event drawing over 100 million live viewers in the U.S. alone, it remains the most-watched television broadcast of the year.
While Lamar’s performance added another chapter to the show’s storied history, the unexpected flag protest has now become one of the most talked-about moments of the night.
