During the electrifying climax of Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl halftime show, a protester made an unexpected appearance. Tucked away in the corner of the screen, as Lamar and the entire stadium hit the iconic “it’s probably A-minooooor” from his hit diss track “Not Like Us,” someone unfurled a flag combining the symbols of Palestine and Sudan.
According to an N.F.L. statement, the protester was one of the 400 people chosen to be part of the field cast. “The individual hid the item on his person and unveiled it late in the show,” explained the league. “No one involved with the production was aware of the individual’s intent.”
Roc Nation, the entertainment powerhouse behind the halftime show, also shared their side of the story: “The act by the individual was neither planned nor part of the production and was never in any rehearsal.”
Amid the sea of performers dressed in vibrant red, white, blue, and black, the protestor stood atop the centerpiece of the stage—a sleek Buick Grand National GNX, a nod to the car that inspired Lamar’s latest album, “GNX.” Ground-level images and social media clips showcased a figure in black sweats—blending seamlessly with fellow performers—holding flags emblazoned with “Sudan” and “Gaza,” alongside a heart and a symbol of solidarity, the raised fist.
As Lamar moved into his closing number, “TV Off,” from his “GNX” album, the flag-waver seized his final moment, jumping off the car. He ran with the flag fluttering above until security intervened, tackling him and escorting him off the field.
Emmanuel Morgan contributed to this report.
