On October 21, 2024, rappers Juvenile and Mannie Fresh interacted with Power 106 Los Angeles, where the former clarified his previous reaction towards Kendrick Lamar. He had earlier expressed disappointment over Lamar being chosen to do the 2025 Super Bowl Halftime over Lil Wayne.
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During the show, when Juvenile was asked if he would show up for the big event if Kendrick Lamar invited him, he immediately confirmed he would. He then explained that his issue was with the NFL, not with Kendrick Lamar. Juvenile said,
"Kendrick is one of the best performers we have ever seen. He’s top notch, especially in Hip Hop. In the Hip Hop world, he raises the bar. So it’s something that everybody want to see, and if he calls, I am there."
Mannie Fresh also explained that the internet often distorted situations, noting that they expressed support for Wayne's involvement because he was part of their team. However, he acknowledged that Kendrick was deserving of the spotlight.
Juvenile emphasized that he had always respected Kendrick Lamar and never spoke negatively about him, as he didn’t believe in pulling others down. He mentioned feeling that Wayne had been campaigning for the opportunity and hoped that Wayne would at least be considered, suggesting a call or acknowledgment should have been given.
The rapper clarified that his issue was never with Jay-Z, Kendrick, or anyone else involved but with the NFL. He expressed frustration that when the NFL hosted major events in his city, they rented local venues but didn’t involve local talent, leaving the community without seeing the benefits. He felt the NFL had mishandled the situation.
Reports suggest that Jay-Z was not responsible to have Kendrick Lamar headline the 2025 Super Bowl halftime show
As per a Vibe report from September 10, 2024, the NFL or Jay-Z and his team are not solely responsible for the Super Bowl halftime performance decision.
Reportedly, a panel consisting of the NFL’s entertainment director, its production company members, and the halftime show’s director and producer compiled a shortlist of artists. This list is then presented to the host city, which selects the final act.
However, this claim was contradicted by Jay Cicero, president and CEO of the Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation and a member of the Super Bowl LIX Host Committee, who clarified that the NFL alone is responsible for selecting the entertainment.
On September 10, 2024, Juvenile shared a video on Instagram after it was announced that Kendrick Lamar would headline the halftime show. In it, he criticized the NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and urged him to address the issue.
He expressed frustration over the NFL profiting from his city's culture during events while neglecting the local community, calling for the exploitation to end.
He highlighted that despite New Orleans hosting 11 Super Bowls, the NFL has never selected a local artist for the halftime performance. He expressed disappointment that Lil Wayne, with his numerous hits and ability to collaborate with artists across genres, was overlooked for this year’s show, emphasizing that Wayne truly deserved the opportunity.
In other news, widespread rumors have suggested that Drake sent a cease and desist letter to prevent Kendrick Lamar from performing his No. 1 diss track, Not Like Us, at the Super Bowl halftime show. However, Drake's representative exclusively informed Page Six that these claims were false.
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