“It Hurt a Whole Lot”: Lil Wayne Addresses 2025 Super Bowl Halftime Show Snub

Well-known American rapper Dwayne Michael Carter, widely recognized as Lil Wayne, recently addressed his disappointment at not being selected to perform at the halftime show of the 2025 Super Bowl in his hometown of New Orleans.

This come shortly after the NFL revealed that Kendrick Lamar, would be the headlining performer.

In a video message that gained significant attention on September 13, 2024, Lil Wayne acknowledged that he wasn’t mentally prepared to cope with the disappointment.

He spoke about the time it took him to process the news, which he described as ‘hurtful,’ while also expressing gratitude to friends and colleagues who supported him and questioned the decision to overlook him.

Read Also: Kendrick Lamar to Headline 2025 Super Bowl Halftime Show

Lil Wayne emphasized that performing at the 2025 Super Bowl in New Orleans would have been a tremendous honor. He also indicated that he is working to overcome his disappointment.

‘First of all, I want to say forgive me for the delay. I had to find the strength to do this without breaking,’ said a somber and clearly dispirited Wayne. ‘I want to thank every voice, every opinion, all the care, love, and support out there. Your words turned into arms and held me up when I tried to fall back.’

Seated on a couch and wearing a red, white, and blue track jacket paired with red shorts, Lil Wayne candidly shared how the news affected him.

”It hurt. It hurt a lot. You know what I’m talking about. It hurt a whole lot,’ he said haltingly. ‘I blame myself for not being mentally prepared for a letdown and for automatically assuming that I would be chosen, as if someone had promised me that spot.

“So I blame myself for that. But I thought there was nothing better than that spot, that stage, and that platform in my city, so it hurt. It hurt a whole lot,” he said.