Lil Wayne’s performance on the Saturday Night Live 50th anniversary special has convinced many NFL fans that he should have performed the Super Bowl halftime show, rather than Kendrick Lamar.
The rapper had a controversial 13-minute cameo midway through the Philadelphia Eagles’ win over the Kansas City Chiefs last week.
It reportedly drew an average audience of 133.5million viewers – more than any other halftime show in history.
But the performance – which featured SZA, Samuel L. Jackson, Serena Williams, and his famous diss track about bitter rival Drake – was criticized by many viewers. Some branded it ‘the worst halftime show ever’.
The NFL ‘immediately’ sent a letter of apology to Lil Wayne after announcing that Lamar would perform in New Orleans.
The move sparked outrage, given Lil Wayne was born and raised in the Big Easy. And the controversy was reignited amid the criticism of Lamar’s performance.
Lil Wayne’s SNL performance convinced many fans that he should have sung at the Super Bowl
Kendrick Lamar had a 13-minute cameo midway through the Eagles’ win over the Chiefs
Lil Wayne performs a medley of his hits on SNL’s 50th anniversary special #SNL50 pic.twitter.com/h8Y6u89LgX
— Complex Music (@ComplexMusic) February 17, 2025
The NFL reportedly regrets its choice and, a week on from the Super Bowl, Lil Wayne performed during the 50th anniversary special of Saturday Night Live.
Before long, social media was ablaze, with many fans citing the rapper’s performance as proof of why he should have appeared at the Superdome.
‘Lil Wayne would’ve been so much better of a choice for a halftime show than Kendrick. He is KILLING it during SNL 50. Baffles me they didn’t choose the kid from Nola,’ one said.
‘Lil Wayne’s performance tonight on SNL would run laps around Kendrick’s halftime show,’ a second fan added.
‘Lil Wayne just made Kendrick’s half time show look so weak on SNL 50,’ said a third, while a fourth agreed: ‘Lil Wayne’s SNL set list was 10x better than Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl performance.’
Other supporters said the rapper ‘crushed’ his TV appearance, with one adding: ‘This Lil Wayne and the Roots performance at SNL 50 is 10x better than the SuperBowl halftime show.’
But the 42-year-old’s performance also attracted its fair share of criticism, with some arguing that it was evidence that the NFL made the right call.
‘Lil Wayne would’ve been so much better of a choice for a halftime show,’ one fan said
‘People were ᴅᴇᴀᴅ serious saying Lil Wayne should’ve done the Super Bowl halftime show over Kendrick. Please watch this SNL performance,’ one wrote.
‘I want all of you watching the SNL 50th anniversary to apologize to Kendrick for wanting Lil Wayne to be the halftime show,’ said another.
‘Lil Wayne proving once and for all why he deserved to be banned from the Super Bowl Halftime,’ a third wrote.
Meanwhile, a fourth added: ‘I love Lil Wayne with my whole damn heart but this SNL performance is making those who said he should have played the Super Bowl look even dumber.’
