Lil Wayne has expressed disappointment after being passed over as the headliner for the Super Bowl LIX halftime show, which will be held in New Orleans.
Speaking in an Instagram video, Wayne admitted the decision “broke” him, as he had mentally placed himself in that role in his home city.
Following the announcement that Kendrick Lamar would headline, several artists, including Nicki Minaj, Master P, and Cam’ron, criticized the choice, blaming Jay-Z for the decision.
Minaj suggested on social media that the selection was due to Jay-Z’s personal issues with Wayne and his affiliates, like Birdman, Drake, and herself.
Wayne previously expressed interest in headlining the 2025 Super Bowl and said, “we’re praying, keeping our fingers crossed.”
The controversy has sparked widespread debate, with many pointing to Jay-Z’s role as co-producer of the halftime show since Roc Nation partnered with the NFL in 2019.
Despite past tensions between Wayne and Jay-Z, the two reconciled when Wayne joined Jay’s music platform Tidal in 2015.
Jay-Z even helped Wayne with his taxes, and Wayne called him a “real friend” in 2018.
However, the rap community remains divided on whether personal feuds influenced the halftime selection.
Lamar’s headlining choice follows his successful diss track “Not Like Us,” which topped the charts and broke streaming records amid a feud with Drake, further fueling speculation over Jay-Z’s involvement in the decision.
