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Lil Wayne has opened up about his deep disappointment over missing the opportunity to perform at the 2025 Super Bowl Halftime Show—a gig he says was within reach but ultimately slipped away. In a recent cover story interview with Rolling Stone, the New Orleans native shared his emotional response to being passed over in favor of Kendrick Lamar, who delivered a powerful rendition of “Not Like Us” during the show.
The pain hit even harder for Wayne, whose hometown played host to this year’s Super Bowl at Caesars Superdome. “They stole that feeling. I don’t want to do it. It was perfect,” the Love Me rapper confessed, indicating that not only did he feel robbed of a defining moment, but he’s also not interested in performing at a future halftime show anymore.
According to Rolling Stone, Lil Wayne made considerable efforts to align himself with the kind of high-profile visibility he believed would help him secure the spot. “If you notice, I was a part of things I’ve never been a part of. Like [Michael] Rubin’s all-white parties. I’m doing s**t with Tom Brady. That was all for that,” he revealed, explaining that he strategically stepped outside his usual lane in hopes of catching the NFL’s eye.
Though he noted that the NFL maintained communication with him, Wayne emphasized that the final say wasn’t theirs to make. The halftime show is produced by Roc Nation, Jay-Z’s entertainment company, which ultimately makes the performance decisions.
Still, despite feeling “baffled and angry,” Wayne took the high road. Rolling Stone reported that he personally reached out to Kendrick Lamar, wishing him well and telling him to “kill it” onstage—a gesture that underscores both his professionalism and respect for a fellow artist.