Lil Wayne : Not Being Chosen for Super Bowl ‘Broke Me’

Less than a week after Kendrick Lamar was declared the headliner of the Super Bowl Halftime show, New Orleans native Lil Wayne has admitted that not being picked for the spot “broke me.”

“That hurt, it hurt a lot,” he said in a statement shared on Instagram. “I thought there was nothing better than that spot, on that stage, on that platform.”

“It broke me, but I’m just trying to put myself back together.” Wayne had expressed his desire to play the show multiple times over the years. The game is scheduled to take place at New Orleans’ Caesars Stadium on February 9.

Almost immediately after Lamar, a Los Angeles native, was announced as the headliner for the 2025 Super Bowl Halftime show, online outcry began over his selection instead of Wayne — Nicki Minaj, also a Wayne protege, was among the first to express dissent. While Lamar is arguably the most influential and successful rapper in the world right now, Wayne’s legacy in music is immense and dates back to the ‘90s when he emerged as a precocious teenage rapper with the Hot Boyz. Although he relocated to Miami years ago, he maintains a strong connection to New Orleans.

Lamar’s recent feud with Drake — whose early career was guided by Wayne — has only solidified his dominance, particularly with the Drake-disparaging song “Not Like Us,” which is one of the biggest hits of the year.

Adding to the complexity, Super Bowl entertainment is managed by Jay-Z’s Roc Nation company, although the NFL and the city of New Orleans also had a part in the selection. Jay has faced criticism from many for his role in the decision, prompting rappers like Fat Joe and Fabolous to speak out in his defense.

“Firstly, I want to apologize for the delay,” Wayne says at the beginning of the clip. “I needed to gather enough strength to do this without breaking down. I want to express gratitude to every voice, every opinion, all the care, love, and support out there. Your words became a source of strength and held me up when I felt like giving up.”

“[Not being selected] was painful — it really hurt,” Wayne continues. “I hold myself accountable for not being mentally prepared for disappointment. I automatically assumed that was my place, like someone told me so.”

Wayne and Jay-Z are among the most respected veterans of hip-hop, with Lamar and Drake leading the next generation. While Jay and Lamar don't share the mentor-mentee relationship that Wayne and Drake do, they’ve had a close relationship over the years and Lamar has performed with Jay’s wife Beyonce — including on her song “Freedom,” which has become an anthem for Kamala Harris’ presidential campaign. Both rappers performed with Beyonce at the New Jersey the closing date of her 2016 “Lemonade” tour, although not together.

““ Kendrick Lamar is truly a unique and exceptional artist and performer,” Jay said of Lamar in the Super Bowl Halftime announcement on Sunday. “His deep appreciation for hip-hop and culture informs his artistic vision. He possesses an unmatched ability to define and influence culture globally. Kendrick’s work transcends music, and his impact will be felt for years to come.”

Variety will have more on the situation as it develops.