Lil Wayne addressed the disappointment of not being chosen to perform at the 2025 Super Bowl halftime show in his hometown of New Orleans. His comments came shortly after the NFL named Kendrick Lamar as the headliner for the event.
In an emotional Instagram video, Wayne shared his struggle to process the news and why it took him time to respond. “First of all, forgive me for the delay. I had to gather the strength to do this without breaking,” he stated.
Wearing a red, white, and blue track jacket, Wayne expressed the pain he felt upon learning he would not take the stage. “That hurt. It hurt a lot… I blame myself for not being mentally prepared for a letdown,” he said, revealing that he had dreamed of performing at the Super Bowl in his city. “It hurt because I thought there was nothing better than that spot and that stage and that platform in my city.”
Despite his feelings of disappointment, Wayne took time to thank his fans, who helped him navigate the situation. “But y’all are f—ing amazing. It made me feel terrible not getting this opportunity, and when I felt that way, you guys reminded me that I ain’t s—t without y’all.”
He also recognized the support he received from fellow musicians, family, and fans. “Thanks to all my peers, my friends, my family, my homies on the sports television and everybody repping me,” Wayne expressed, noting that their encouragement kept him motivated.
Local artists like Master P and Juvenile voiced their disagreement with the NFL’s choice to overlook Wayne. Kendrick Lamar, who is set to perform at Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans on February 9, 2025, has not yet commented on the reaction to the decision.