Kendrick Lamar’s polarizing Super Bowl halftime performance drew over 100 complaints to the Federal Communications Commission – including some about his feud with Drake – according to a report.
Lamar took the stage during the break of the Eagles’ eventual Super Bowl LIX win over the Chiefs, and performed his hit Drake diss ‘Not Like Us.’
The song, which has been the subject of a defamation lawsuit from Drake, refers to the Canadian as a ‘certified pedophile,’ though Lamar did not rap those words onstage in February. Lamar did leave in other controversial lines from the song, such as ‘Say, Drake, I hear you like ’em young’ and ‘Tryna strike a chord and it’s probably A minor.’
Roughly six weeks after the performance, TMZ has obtained 125 complaints sent to the FCC regarding the performance, and at least 10 of then refer to Lamar’s anti-Drake lines.
One complaint claimed that Lamar used the platform to push a ‘personal vendetta’ against Drake.
‘Kendrick lamar made fake false and scandalous claims that are unfounded,’ another said. ‘He [said] drake was a pedophile on TV in front of million of ppl, do better, this is a sad day.’
Kendrick Lamar’s controversial halftime show drew an average audience of 133.5million people
Lamar’s song ‘Not Like Us’ – a pointed diss at Drake (pictured) – was performed in New Orleans
Serena Williams also drew criticism for ‘crip-walking’ during the performance
Other complaints included references to some of the dance moves performed, ‘apparent anti-American’ themes in the words of TMZ (there was a split American flag at one point in the show), and the fact that Lamar only used black performers in his performance.
Serena Williams also drew criticism for her ‘crip walk’ dance during the performance, as she made a brief appearance onstage.
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The footwork is linked with the Compton gang, the Crips, and the tennis legend was chastised in one complaint about promoting ‘gang affiliation.’
While not everyone was a fan of the performance, it set historic viewership records.
According to Front Office Sports, an average audience of 133.5million people watched Lamar’s performance – more than any other halftime show in history.
The game itself was actually outpaced in viewership by Lamar, as it notched an average viewership of 127.7million viewers on Fox’s platforms and peaked during the second quarter at 137.7m.
The rapper’s 13-minute performance included cameos from SZA and Samuel L. Jackson in addition to Williams.
Aside from ‘Not Like Us’, Lamar played classics like ‘DNA’ and ‘Humble’, and newer tracks like ‘Squabble Up’, ‘Luther’ and ‘TV Off.’
