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Lil Wayne Opens Up About Super Bowl Halftime Snub: “It Broke Me”
Sep
Lil Wayne has expressed deep disappointment over not being selected to perform at next year’s Super Bowl halftime show in his hometown of New Orleans, with Kendrick Lamar taking the coveted spot instead. The rapper shared his feelings with fans in a heartfelt video posted on Instagram, revealing the emotional toll the decision has taken on him.
The video, posted late Thursday night, came several days after Lamar’s performance was announced. Wayne, whose full name is Dwayne Michael Carter Jr., began by explaining that it took him time to gather the strength to speak on the matter. “Forgive me for the delay,” he said. “I had to get strength enough to do this without breaking. Thank you to every voice, every opinion, all the love and support out there. Your words turned into arms and held me up when I tried to fall back.”
Wayne then opened up about the pain of not being chosen for the high-profile event. “That hurt a lot. I blame myself for not being mentally prepared for a letdown. For just automatically mentally putting myself in that position, like someone told me that was my position.” His heartbreak is particularly intense given that Super Bowl LIX will take place in New Orleans, where he was born, raised, and launched his iconic career.
“I thought there was nothing better than that spot, that stage, and that platform in my city,” Wayne continued. “It broke me. I’m just trying to put me back together. But, my God, how you all have helped me.”
Lil Wayne, known for his chart-topping hits like “A Milli” and his influence on the hip-hop industry, has also mentored some of the biggest names in rap, including Drake and Nicki Minaj. After Lamar’s selection was announced, Minaj fiercely defended Wayne on social media, highlighting his contributions to hip-hop. “Wayne had Drake & I on his tour w/no papers signed. He was on all of my mixtapes w/no papers signed. This man has literally changed the FACE of hip hop,” Minaj tweeted, praising Wayne’s influence on the genre and his unwavering love for music.
While Drake has remained silent on the halftime show decision, there is an added layer of tension given his and Wayne’s past feud with Lamar. Earlier this year, Lamar reignited their rivalry with diss tracks like “Not Like Us,” which became one of 2024’s biggest hits. The lingering tension may have intensified the sting of Wayne’s Super Bowl snub.
The Super Bowl halftime show has been curated by Jay-Z’s company, Roc Nation, since 2019. In a statement about Lamar’s selection, Jay-Z praised the rapper’s cultural significance, calling him “a once-in-a-generation artist and performer” whose work “transcends music.”
Super Bowl LIX is set for February 9, 2025. Wayne has not provided any additional comments, but his raw emotions serve as a reminder of the personal stakes tied to performing on one of the biggest stages in music.
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