Kendrick Lamar didn’t just dominate the Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show — he turned it into an all-time iconic moment.
The Compton-born rapper delivered an electrifying set that had the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans shaking, but perhaps the biggest shock of the night came midway through his performance when tennis legend Serena Williams made an unforgettable cameo.
As Lamar launched into 'Not Like Us' —his Grammy-winning diss track aimed squarely at Drake — Williams appeared on stage and started dancing (crip walking) right in the middle of the song.
The moment sent social media into a meltdown, instantly becoming one of the most talked-about halftime show appearances in history.
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A Cameo Packed with History
The connection between Lamar and Williams runs deep. Both are Compton natives who rose to superstardom in their respective fields, making their joint moment on the Super Bowl stage feel like a full-circle triumph.
But there’s another layer to this story — Drake and Williams dated for years in the early 2010s, with the rapper even confirming that his 2016 hit 'Too Good' was inspired by her, per the Daily Mail.
Their romance was long speculated, and footage of them kissing in a Cincinnati restaurant in 2015 all but confirmed their relationship.
By 2016, Williams had moved on and became engaged to Reddit founder Alexis Ohanian, with the two later marrying. But that didn’t stop the moment between Williams and Lamar from feeling like a direct hit at Drake.
Drake and Lamar’s feud dominated 2024, erupting after Lamar’s fiery guest verse on Future and Metro Boomin’s We Don’t Trust You album.
That track set off a chain reaction of diss tracks, industry drama, and fan-fueled speculation, culminating in Lamar dropping 'Not Like Us', which won five Grammys just days before his Super Bowl performance, including Record of the Year and Song of the Year.
So, to see Drake’s ex dancing to the very song meant to destroy him, at the biggest sporting event in the world, in front of more than 100 million viewers worldwide? That’s next-level pettiness—and an absolute power move by Kendrick Lamar.
Social Media Reacts
And, as you'd expect, social media exploded over the moment:
Performing for Free—But Gaining Everything
Lamar’s halftime show may go down as one of the most memorable Super Bowl performances of all time, and yet, he won’t be making a dime for it. Like past Super Bowl headliners, the NFL covers all production costs but doesn’t directly pay its halftime performers. Instead, the league sees the massive global exposure as the real prize—one that often translates to record-breaking music sales and streaming numbers.
Past performers have reaped the benefits:
- Rihanna saw her Spotify streams skyrocket by 640% after her 2023 performance and racked up $88.3 million in media impact value in just 12 hours.
- Lady Gaga’s 2017 performance boosted her album and song sales by 1000%.
- Jennifer Lopez gained 2.3 million new Instagram followers after her 2020 Super Bowl appearance.
Even artists themselves have invested millions into their shows—The Weeknd reportedly spent $7 million of his own money on his 2021 performance, and Dr. Dre did the same in 2022.
With his Super Bowl moment now etched into pop culture history, Lamar likely won’t have to worry about a paycheck. His streaming numbers will soar, his music will dominate the charts, and this performance — complete with the Serena Williams bombshell — will be talked about for years.
One thing is certain — Kendrick Lamar just made Super Bowl Halftime Show history. And he did it with precision, power, and the ultimate petty flex.