Performer waved “Free Gaza” flag during live broadcast, faces legal action and NFL ban
Kendrick Lamar’s historic Super Bowl halftime show was briefly overshadowed by an unexpected protest that has now resulted in an arrest.
Zul-Qarnain Kwame Nantambu, a 41-year-old performer from New Orleans, disrupted the February performance by running across the field waving a Sudanese flag emblazoned with the words “Free Gaza.” Though he was officially part of the halftime production, Nantambu’s act was unsanctioned and caught organizers off guard. Security swiftly detained him on the field.
While he had authorized access to the stadium as part of the entertainment crew, officials confirmed he did not have permission to stage a demonstration. After an investigation, an arrest warrant was issued. Nantambu later turned himself in and was charged with resisting an officer and disturbing the peace.
Kendrick Lamar has not commented publicly on the incident. The NFL issued a firm statement condemning the act and confirmed that Nantambu has been banned from all NFL games and events.
Despite the disruption, Kendrick’s performance drew a record-breaking 133.5 million viewers, surpassing Michael Jackson’s 1993 halftime viewership. The game itself also broke records with an average of 126 million viewers.