The NFL reportedly extended an “apology letter” to rap icon Lil Wayne after he was overlooked for the Super Bowl LIX half-time show. During the Philadelphia Eagles’ crushing 40-22 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs, Kendrick Lamar took the stage at the Caesar’s Superdome.
Yet, not everybody was happy to see the 22-time Grammy winner. Ex-ESPN and FOX personality Skip Bayless was so upset that his friend and rap star Lil Wayne had been snubbed that he abstained from watching Sunday’s half-time entertainment.
Lamar’s performance proved to be a huge talking point on the evening, particularly as it also included a cameo from Samuel L. Jackson dressed as Uncle Sam. Not that Bayless would have known until the Super Bowl ended, as he insisted he did not tune into the performance.
Bayless, aged 73, took to social media and said: “I am not watching this halftime show out of respect for my brother Lil Wayne, who obviously should be playing in his hometown of New Orleans. This is just so wrong.”
In earlier posts on X, Bayless expressed bewilderment over why Lil Wayne, 40, wasn’t chosen to lead the show. He had previously tweeted: “Wayne is New Orleans. This Super Bowl obviously will be played in New Orleans, so why wasn’t Wayne chosen?”
The Oklahoma-born commentator also disclosed that the league sent Wayne a conciliatory message, opting for Lamar over him. Music mega-star Wayne, who is reportedly valued at a colossal $170million, gave his followers the lowdown via Instagram Stories recently, confirming he wouldn’t be gracing the Super Bowl with his presence.
He said: “Y’all know I’m not going to be there this week, which means I guess there’s a seat to fill. Shout out to New Orleans, but I’ve been working on something very special. I got something exciting coming for you Thursday, the 6th. Until then… I’m chillin.”
At the same time, tennis great Serena Williams became an unexpected highlight during Lamar’s segment, busting out dance moves on stage during the rendition of ‘Not Like Us’ – his scorching diss track aimed at fellow rapper Drake.
This appearance sparked speculation among the audience, considering her past rumoured fling with Drake back in 2015 when he was frequently seen at her tennis matches.
However, all the half-time show buzz was eclipsed by the Philadelphia Eagles’ commanding performance on the field. Spearheaded by Nick Sirianni and protected by the strategic wizardry of defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, the Eagles crushed the Kansas City Chiefs in a staggering 40-22 victory, avenging past defeats and clinching another Super Bowl title.
