Viewers Are Saying the 2025 Super Bowl Halftime Show Was a Complete Disaster

Millions of fans expected an incredible Super Bowl LIX halftime show, but Kendrick Lamar’s performance sparked a big debate instead.

Kendrick Lamar took the stage on February 9, 2025, during the Super Bowl LIX halftime show. His high-energy performance quickly became a hot topic among viewers.

The rapper, known for his deep lyrics and powerful presence, performed some of his biggest hits, including Humble, Squabble Up, and Not Like Us—a song many believe is a diss track aimed at Drake.

Lamar also brought out R&B singer SZA for a special moment. The two have worked together before, and their performance excited fans.

The official Apple Music Halftime Show Instagram page shared clips from the event, writing, “IT’S K-D-O-T…” and “@KendrickLamar and @SZA are the moment.” A video of Lamar rapping Humble quickly went viral online.

Despite the star power and hit songs, fans had mixed reactions. Some loved Lamar’s performance, while others were disappointed and shared their thoughts on social media.

On Instagram, some viewers criticized the show. One person wrote, “Might be the worst halftime show of all time [sic].” Another added, “This halftime show was boring.”

Reddit users had similar opinions. One viewer commented, “I was excited for it, and found this utterly underwhelming.” Another wrote, “Turned the channel during this [sic].”

On X (formerly Twitter), criticism continued. One user said, “Kendrick ruined the sb halftime show. SZA too fine to ruin anything [sic].”

Another person wrote, “I find Kendrick Lamar cringe. His voice is gimmicky to me. His whole Art [sic] feels cartoonish.”

Some fans were frustrated with Lamar’s rapping style. One person posted, “Kendrick Lamar so mid, his voice so annoying [sic].” Another asked, “Tell me I’m not the only one needing subtitles for this!!” Someone else added, “Lil Wayne should have been the halftime performer. Kendrick was straight-up mumbling.”

The halftime show remained a hot topic, with fans arguing over whether Lamar’s style was right for such a big stage.

Besides the music, Lamar’s jewelry caught fans’ attention. He wore a chain with a lowercase letter “a,” leading to online speculation about its meaning.

Some fans believed it was a subtle dig at Drake, whose real name is Aubrey Graham. Others thought it referenced Lamar’s song Not Like Us, which includes the lyric, “Tryna strike a chord and it’s probably A minor,” referring to a musical note.

One user asked, “what does the lowercase ‘a’ that kendrick lamar is wearing on his chain mean [sic]?” Another pointed out, “Ya’ll catch the lowercase ‘a’ chain?!? The pettiness from Kendrick Lamar is unmatched [sic].”

“The fact that Kendrick’s chain is ‘a-minor’ is the icing on the cake,” one fan wrote. Another added, “The chain… a minor… Kdot next level petty [sic].”

Some fans, however, said the “a” had nothing to do with Drake. They explained that it actually came from the logo of Lamar’s company, pgLang. The company, founded by Lamar and Dave Free, focuses on music, media, and technology.

One user explained, “The ‘a’ chain is from the logo of Kendrick’s company (pgLang) not ‘a-minor’…” Another disagreed, writing, “I didn’t think I needed to explain this, but no, it was an ‘a minor’ chain. It was a pgLang chain.”

Some believed the performance had a deeper meaning. “If we’re being honest it seemed like Kendrick Lamar’s whole Super Bowl performance was based around Drake. The songs, the shade, him bringing out Serena Williams, down to the ‘A’ chain around his neck standing for ‘Aubrey’. That proves who the GOAT really is [sic].”

Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl halftime show sparked major debate, with fans arguing about his performance, song choices, and even his jewelry. The conversation continues well after the game.