Kendrick Lamar’s controversial Super Bowl halftime show performance targeting Drake results in 125 complaints

Kendrick Lamar's Super Bowl halftime show performance explicitly dissing Drake receives more than 100 complaints from the viewers

Kendrick Lamar’s controversial Super Bowl halftime show performance targeting Drake results in 125 complaints

Kendrick Lamar Super Bowl halftime show attacking Drake receives complaints from viewers (image via Billboard)

Kendrick Lamar‘s Super Bowl halftime show had been a widely-debated affair even before its commencement. With the expectations it brought, the rap singer was drawing a high bid in his 15-minute performance. While for some he passed, for a few others, not so much. Per recent reports, his performance dragging rap nemesis Drake drew more than 100 complaints to the Federal Communications Commission.

Kendrick Lamar took to the stage amid the Philadelphia Eagles’ 40-22 win over the Kansas City Chiefs. With the viewers keen on the nail-biting match, the performance turned them off due to several reasons stated by all of 125 people.

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A majority of them concerned themselves with the nature of the performance not being ‘family-friendly’ as promised. Some of them took up with the singer for being one-dimensional for including “only black performers” and promoting a geographic image with the American flag visual.

The public also raised concerns about the crotch-grabbing, raunchy moves in the choreography. Speaking of the symbolism, they alleged Lamar focused more on rubbing on fellow rapper Drake following their intense rap beef.

The aforementioned “personal vendetta” was an extremely publicized rivalry between Kendrick Lamar and Drake, which resulted in both singers taking shots at each other with their music. Eventually, with the unofficial public verdict, the 37-year-old singer was the last one standing.

Lamar’s winning track, “Not Like Us”, was the music that divided the entire nation into two. The explicit feature accused Drake of several things, including vandalizing his image. Kendrick also went into deep waters in the court with charges pressed by the God’s Plan singer.

Critics shunned the Super Bowl halftime headliner for using the terms on such a platform, despite strict censorship regulations. Additionally, Serena Williams, Drake’s rumored ex-girlfriend, who made a cameo in Lamar’s performance, also got under fire.

Her crip-walking was accused of promoting “gang affiliation”, and it wasn’t the first time she had been corrected on that front. However, no Super Bowl halftime performance had been without critics or complaints.

Kendrick Lamar’s halftime show was the most-watched Super Bowl performance in NFL history

The 125 complaints were a needle in a haystack in front of the large majority that tuned in to watch Kendrick Lamar’s performance. Per records, the Super Bowl had 126 million people glued to their screens to watch the Eagles brutally leading the Chiefs. Right before Kendrick Lamar’s entry, the numbers spiked up to 133.5 million approximately.

According to Roc Nation, Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl halftime show became the most-watched performance in the history of the NFL. Subsequently, it shyly surpassed Michael Jackson’s record of 133.4 million viewers. The NFL also reposted Roc Nation’s post on their X account.

They weren’t the only ones, social media was filled with clips of Lamar’s performance that made rounds on the internet. Cameos from Samuel L. Jackson, Serena Williams, and SZA were a huge hit. The pop singer made several alterations to his lyrics, considering the platform and its strict redactions. The halftime show itself had seen changes in approach, with more inclination towards entertainment.

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