Why Lil Wayne Won’t Consider Possibility of Super Bowl Halftime Show Ever Again

“To perform, it’s a bunch of things they’re going to tell you to do and not do, asses to kiss and not kiss,” he explained. “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 shit with Tom Brady. That was all for that.”

“You ain’t never seen me in them types of venues,” he continued. “I ain’t Drake. I ain’t out there smiling like that everywhere. I’m in the stu’, smokin’ and recording.” 

He further alleged that after Kendrick was announced, someone at the league apologized to him, but told him that they weren’t “in charge” of the halftime show. Lil Wayne added, “All of a sudden, according to them, they got curved.”

As for who is in charge? Following the rapper’s initial comments about the news on Instagram Live in September, halftime executive producer Jesse Collins said it’s been Jay-Z who has called the shots since 2019.

“It’s a decision that Jay makes,” Jesse told Variety at the time. “He’s made it every year, and it’s been amazing. He’s always picked right!”

“We love Wayne,” he emphasized. “There’s always Vegas odds on who’s going to get to perform it. But I think we’re going to do an amazing show with Kendrick, and I think everybody’s going to love the halftime show.”

E! News has reached out to reps for the NFL and Jay-Z for comment and has not heard back.

When Lil Wayne first opened up about his disappointment in September, he admitted he should’ve been “mentally prepared for a letdown.”

“I thought there was nothing better than that spot, that stage, that platform, in my city,” he continued in the Instagram Live. “So it hurt. It hurt a whole lot.”

“I feel like I let all of y’all down for not getting that opportunity,” he told his fans. “But I’m working on me, and I’m working. So thank you.” 

For a look back at this year’s Super Bowl, read on.