A dancer who took part in Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl halftime show has been handed a lifetime ban by the NFL after staging a protest during the performance. The individual displayed a banner referencing Gaza and Sudan, prompting immediate intervention by security and a strong response from the league.
Lamar’s halftime show was a star-studded spectacle, featuring appearances by SZA, Samuel L. Jackson, Serena Williams, and DJ Mustard. The performance, which included Lamar’s Grammy-winning track “Not Like Us,” was a major talking point of the event. However, the protest during the show shifted some of the focus away from the music.
The protester, dressed like the other dancers, stood on a GNX car on stage and unveiled the banner before being quickly removed by security. The NFL praised its security team for their swift action and confirmed that the individual would be banned from all NFL events and stadiums for life. The league emphasized that the protest was not part of the planned performance and that no one involved in the production was aware of the dancer’s intentions.
Roc Nation, the company behind the halftime show, also clarified that the protest was neither planned nor rehearsed. The New Orleans Police Department confirmed that the individual was ejected from the stadium but would not face further legal action.
The incident has sparked discussions about the role of activism in major entertainment events, particularly in light of recent political developments, including statements by former President Donald Trump about the Gaza Strip.
