Lil Wayne addresses his exclusion from the 2025 Super Bowl Halftime Show, expressing his disappointment and gratitude for fan support.
Lil Wayne has publicly responded to his exclusion from the 2025 NFL Super Bowl Halftime Show, which will take place at the Caesar Superdome in his hometown of New Orleans. The announcement, made on September 8, revealed that Kendrick Lamar will headline the show. This decision has sparked debate among hip-hop fans, many of whom believe Lil Wayne deserved the spot given his deep ties to the city.
In a heartfelt Instagram post, Lil Wayne opened up about the disappointment he felt upon learning he would not be performing.
He acknowledged the support he received from fans, saying, “First of all I want to say forgive me for the delay. I had to get the strength to do this without breaking. I must say thank you to every voice, every opinion, all the care, love and support. Your words turned into arms and held me up when I tried to fall back.”
The rapper did not shy away from expressing his hurt. He said, “That hurt. Hurt a lot, you know what I’m talking about, hurt a whole lot.” Lil Wayne admitted he had blamed himself for the snub, reflecting on the emotional impact it had on him. “I thought that was nothing better than that spot on that stage on that platform in my city,” he said, revealing how much it meant to him.
Despite his disappointment, Lil Wayne took the opportunity to thank his supporters. “Thanks to all of my peers, my friends, my family, even my homies on the sports television and everybody repping me I really appreciate it, I really do,” he said. He also acknowledged his feelings of letting down his supporters but assured them that he is focused on working on his music and himself.
The decision to feature Kendrick Lamar instead of Lil Wayne has sparked considerable debate. Prominent figures in the hip-hop community, including Nicki Minaj, Juvenile, Birdman, and Master P, have voiced their opinions on the matter. Nicki Minaj took to Twitter to question the decision, suggesting that personal grievances might have influenced the choice. She tweeted, “Denying a young black man what he rightfully put into this game for no other reason but your ego. Your hatred for BIRDMAN, Drake [and] Nicki got you punishing Lil Wayne?!?!!! LIL WAYNE!!!!!!!!!! THE GOAT?!!!!!!!!!!! NOLA, what’s good?!!!!!!”
Lil Wayne’s aspiration to perform at the Super Bowl Halftime Show was evident in a February interview on YG’s 4HUNNID podcast. At that time, he mentioned he had not been contacted by Jay-Z or Roc Nation, who handle NFL’s live music entertainment. “We all praying, we keeping our fingers crossed,” he said. “I’m working hard. I’m going to make sure this next album and everything I do is killer, so I’m going to make it very hard for them not to holler at the boy.”
Jay-Z, who has played a significant role in curating Super Bowl Halftime Shows, has shown his support for Kendrick Lamar. In a statement, Jay-Z praised Lamar, saying, “Lamar is truly a once-in-a-generation artist and performer. His deep love for hip-hop and culture informs his artistic vision. He has an unparalleled ability to define and influence culture globally. Kendrick’s work transcends music, and his impact will be felt for years to come.”
There is also speculation about a possible feud between Jay-Z and Drake influencing the choice of the performer. DJ Akademiks suggested that Jay-Z might hold a grudge against Drake, who declined to join the launch of Jay-Z’s music streaming platform Tidal. This theory adds another layer to the controversy surrounding the selection of Kendrick Lamar as the Halftime Show headliner.
As the 2025 Super Bowl approaches, the debate over the Halftime Show lineup continues. Fans and critics alike are watching closely to see how the choice of Kendrick Lamar will impact the show and whether Lil Wayne will have another opportunity to take center stage in the future.
