There’s palpable excitement surrounding Kendrick Lamar headlining the Super Bowl LIX halftime show, especially following his sweeping success at the Grammys, where “Not Like Us” clinched awards for Song of the Year, Record of the Year, Best Rap Song, Best Rap Performance, and Best Music Video. However, not everyone shares this enthusiasm; Skip Bayless, along with Lil Wayne, feels a profound disappointment. Wayne is opting out of the Super Bowl in his hometown of New Orleans, convinced—much like others in the hip-hop community—that Jay-Z’s Roc Nation snubbed him for the halftime performance.
Bayless has voiced his frustration over Wayne not headlining in The Big Easy. “Yes, Lil Wayne is my brother, but anyone can see this is just so wrong, so dirty, rotten wrong. It’s simply unfair. Wayne is New Orleans. This Super Bowl, obviously, will be played in New Orleans. So why wasn’t he chosen? I suspect Jay-Z, who runs the entertainment department for the NFL, made that decision, presumably weighing Wayne against Kendrick and Taylor Swift for halftime entertainment,” he stated. He continued to point out that Kendrick’s “Not Like Us” was aiming for Song of the Year recognition, alongside its implications within the ongoing Drake and Wayne narrative, emphasizing, “So what? Wayne is New Orleans.”
Lil Wayne not headlining the Super Bowl halftime is … just … so … wrong. pic.twitter.com/r19b5EsAjL
— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) February 5, 2025
As for Bayless’s perspective, the NFL reportedly sent Wayne an apology letter that lacked a personal touch—just a formality on league letterhead thanking him for his support over the years, not just for his beloved Packers, but for the league as a whole. Wayne regularly appears on the NFL Sunday pregame show, NFL GameDay Morning, but he will not take part in Sunday’s halftime performance, nor will he watch it. Bayless reassures that Wayne will still tune into the game itself, just not the halftime show—not a second of it.
When the announcement broke, it was a heavy blow for Wayne, causing him to withdraw for several days. He’s feeling better now, but in an ironic twist, his mother will be traveling from New Orleans to Los Angeles this week to offer her son some emotional support. “This is just so wrong,” Bayless reiterated, reflecting on the situation. While Bayless may be outraged, the Super Bowl halftime show seems to hold no obligation to mend either his or Wayne’s dignity.
