An emotional Lil Wayne has finally spoken out about Kendrick Lamar being chosen, instead of him, to headline the halftime show for the 2025 Super Bowl LIX, which is set to be held in his hometown of New Orleans.
Louisiana-born rapper, 41 years old, She admitted on Instagram On Friday, he spoke in a somber tone:[Not being picked] It hurt. It really hurt. You know what I mean? It really hurt.”
Wayne admitted that he expected too much and “blamed himself” for not being “prepared for the disappointment” and for thinking he would “automatically” get the job.
“It was really tough because I thought nothing could be less than perfect on that stage, on that stage, in my city,” the “A Milli” rapper added, before reiterating, “It was really tough.”
Lamar, 37, was announced as the next Super Bowl halftime show performer on September 8.
The “Not Like Us” rapper said in a statement at the time that the NFL “made the right choice” and that he wanted to “remind the world” that rap is “the most influential genre.”
However, the decision sparked a huge online debate, as many fans assumed that Wayne and the rest of Cash Money Records would take the spot since they are from New Orleans.
Jay-Z's Roc Nation company has also come under fire since overseeing the Super Bowl entertainment.
Wayne told fans via Instagram on Friday that he “asked for forgiveness” for the delay, but said he had to “must up enough strength” to speak about the topic “without breaking.”
“Thank you for every voice out there, every opinion, every care, every love and support,” the “Lollipop” rapper added. “Your words have been like arms, supporting me when I wanted to back away.”
He continued his praise of the supporters, calling them “fabulous” and saying they remind him that without them he “is nothing”.
“Like I said, I was broken, and I'm just trying to get back on my feet,” Wayne said, then repeated, “But God helped us all.”
Wayne ended his heartfelt message by saying that one of the reasons he felt defeated was because he felt he had let his fans down.
The “Best Rapper Currently Alive” emcee said he won't let the setback hold him back, adding, “I'm working on myself and I'm trying. Thank you.”
A wave of support for Wayne followed in the comments section.
Chance the Rapper wrote underneath the post, “You are the best. I honestly don't know what I'd do without you. Thank you.”
Machine Gun Kelly agreed, saying, “Love the song. It's a comeback 🐐🫶🏻🔥.”
Page Six reached out to the NFL for comment but did not immediately receive a response.
