Roger Goodell and Jay-Z (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
The NFL has made a massive announcement pertaining to its partnership with Jay-Z over the Super Bowl halftime show.
The league has extended its deal with Roc Nation, which will continue to produce the show and select performers, having entered into an alliance in 2019.
“NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said the league would continue to work with Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter’s Roc Nation to produce the Super Bowl halftime show,” Bloomberg reported this week.
The development brought out a reaction from NBA legend and Washington Commanders co-owner Magic Johnson, who congratulated the parties.
The Roc Nation partnership has seen the halftime show become even more popular as a cultural event as it doesn’t only focus on entertainment but promotes the league’s Change initiative, which has led to significant grants being given to social justice organizations.
Still, there has been some controversy ahead of the next Super Bowl, with Kendrick Lamar named as the performer for the 2025 halftime show as many felt that Lil Wayne got snubbed.
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Roc Nation Handling The Super Bowl Halftime Show Has Been “Mutually Beneficial,” According To Roger Goodell
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has said the partnership with Jay-Z and Roc Nation is “mutually beneficial,” and the decision to extend is proof that the league is happy with the product Roc Nation has been providing.
The last two halftime shows were talked about for weeks, with Rihanna headlining 2023 and Usher following this year.
The New York-based entertainment company has done an excellent job of mixing sports and activism, which aligns with the NFL’s strategic plan.
Meanwhile, there’s been some concern that Jay-Z could be implicated following Diddy’s fall from grace, as he’s known to have been closely associated with the Bad Boy Records founder.
The NFL’s decision to move forward suggests that the league is not worried about any potential backlash.
VIDEO: Lil Wayne Had Surprising Statement To Being Snubbed From the Super Bowl 59 Halftime Show
Lil Wayne (Photo via NFL_DovKleiman/Twitter)
Nearly a week after Kendrick Lamar was announced as the headliner of the Super Bowl Halftime show, Lil Wayne is finally breaking his silence.
Lil Wayne, a longtime champion and emblem of New Orleans, shared his disappointment at being passed over for Kendrick Lamar to perform at the city’s 2025 Super Bowl halftime show. “That hurt, it hurt a lot,” Wayne said in an Instagram video.
“I thought there was nothing better that spot, on that stage, on that platform. It broke me, but I’m just trying to put myself back together.”
Despite being a local icon, the rap legend revealed he was “not mentally prepared for a let-down” when he found out that Kendrick Lamar would be taking the stage instead.
Many fans had hoped Lil Wayne would take the Super Bowl stage this time around, especially with the event coming to New Orleans.
In the emotional video, the rapper, born Dwayne Michael Carter Jr., also thanked fans for their unwavering support.
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“Your words turned into arms and held me up when I tried to fall back,” Wayne said.
Despite the heartbreak, Lil Wayne credited his fans for pulling him out of a dark place.
“And when I felt like sh-t, you guys reminded me that I ain’t sh-t without y’all. And that’s an amazing reality. It broke me, and I’m just trying to put me back together.”
The rapper never mentions the Super Bowl during the video, but it’s clear that this is the subject.
Lil Wayne’s Disappointment Stems From Previous Comments of Wanting To Play At The Super Bowl
An emotional Lil Waye took to Instagram to record a video telling fans how devastated he was when he learned that he was not selected to perform at the Super Bowl Halftime Show in New Orleans.
Insead, Compton rapper Kendrick Lamar was chosen to perform at the Super Bowl Halftime Show, which will be held on Feb. 9 at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans.
Lil Wayne has stated repeatedly that he’d wish to play the halftime show.
“I will not lie to you,” he said in February. “I have not got a call or nothing. We praying. We are keeping our fingers crossed. I’m working hard. I’m’a make sure this next album and everything I do is killer.”
Lil Wayne also said in December 2023 that he would not bring out any guests if he got the job. “I earned that moment, so I’m not bringing anyone”—short of Beyoncé, Taylor Swift, or a “New Orleans jazz great,” he said.
