The Super Bowl is the most-watched sporting event of the year, but the halftime show has evolved into an even bigger spectacle, cementing its place as a cornerstone of American pop culture.

With the 2025 Super Bowl set to take place in New Orleans, fans were eagerly anticipating a hometown hero headlining the event—none other than Lil Wayne. However, that hope was dashed when Grammy-winning rapper Kendrick Lamar was announced as the halftime performer instead.

In the aftermath of the decision, Lil Wayne finally addressed the situation, expressing deep disappointment. “It broke me,” Wayne confessed. “I’m just trying to put myself back together.”

He continued, “That hurt a whole lot. I blame myself for not being mentally prepared for a letdown. I automatically placed myself in that position in my head. I thought there was nothing bigger than that stage, that platform.”

Outrage over the decision spread quickly, and one of the most vocal critics was Nicki Minaj, Lil Wayne’s longtime collaborator and former Young Money artist. Minaj appeared to call out rap legend Jay-Z, who has a hand in organizing the halftime show.

“Denying a young black man what he rightfully contributed to this game—purely because of your ego,” Minaj said in a scathing online post. “Your hatred for Birdman, Drake & Nicki got you punishing Lil Wayne? LIL WAYNE! THE GOAT! Nola, what’s good?!”

In another pointed comment, she added, “One n**** took a knee. The other n**** took the bag. He’s gonna make sure you fall in line every single time.”

The decision to have Lamar headline the Super Bowl over Wayne has left fans divided, with many still rallying behind Lil Wayne for future opportunities