Lil Wayne Claims Super Bowl Halftime Show in His Hometown Was ‘Ripped Away’ from Him

Lil Wayne didn’t hold back his feelings at his annual Lil Weezyana Fest, addressing the controversy surrounding the Super Bowl LIX halftime show set to take place in New Orleans this February.

Despite fans rallying for him to perform in his hometown, the halftime spot went to Kendrick Lamar—a decision that left many fans and Wayne himself disappointed.

During his set, Lil Wayne took a moment to share his frustration with the crowd. “I told myself I wanna be on stage at the Super Bowl in front of my mom and I worked my a* off to get that position,”* he told fans passionately. “It was ripped away from me, but this moment right here… they can’t take this away from me.”

This isn’t the first time Lil Wayne has opened up about his disappointment. Shortly after the halftime lineup was announced, he shared a heartfelt video where he expressed how much it hurt to miss out on what he considered a dream opportunity. “That hurt, it hurt a lot… I thought there was nothing better than that spot, on that stage, on that platform,” he revealed in the video. “It broke me, but I’m just trying to put myself back together.”

Despite the Super Bowl setback, Wayne had plenty to celebrate at Lil Weezyana Fest. New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell presented him with the key to the city, recognizing his impact on the community and his contributions to music. He also reunited with Birdman and the Hot Boys—Juvenile, B.G., and Turk—giving fans a nostalgic performance that highlighted his deep roots in New Orleans.