The NFL issued a statement after permanently banning a protester during Kendrick Lamar’s performance.
NFL issues lifetime ban after halftime show incident
A Super Bowl protestor has been permanently banned from all NFL events after disrupting Kendrick Lamar’s halftime performance.
The individual, identified as Zul-Qarnain Nantambu, unfurled a Sudanese-Palestinian flag on stage before being removed by security.
Philadelphia Eagles claim victory in Super Bowl LIX
Super Bowl LIX was a historic night for the Philadelphia Eagles. They secured a dominant 40-22 win over the Kansas City Chiefs at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans.
The victory avenged their 38-35 loss to the Chiefs in the previous year’s championship game.
Chiefs stars Travis Kelce and Patrick Mahomes were denied their chance at an unprecedented three-peat title.
The Eagles, determined to rewrite history, put on a commanding performance to seal their win.
Kendrick Lamar delivers a star-studded halftime show
Kendrick Lamar took center stage for a 13-minute performance featuring 11 hit songs. He was joined by SZA, Samuel L. Jackson, DJ Mustard, and Serena Williams.
However, he also made headlines by reigniting his feud with Universal Music Group labelmate Drake.
During his performance of *Not Like Us*, he directly referenced the ongoing dispute between the two artists.
During Lamar’s performance, Nantambu, posing as a backup dancer, climbed onto a prop car and revealed a Sudanese-Palestinian flag.
The flag displayed handwritten messages, including the words “Gaza” and “Sudan,” referencing the conflicts in both regions.
The protestor briefly ran across the field before being tackled by security. He was quickly removed from the 83,000-seat stadium in Louisiana.
NFL confirms lifetime ban for protestor
The NFL confirmed Nantambu has been banned for life from all league events to response to the incident.
Additionally, officials praised security for their swift action in detaining him.
“We commend security for quickly detaining the individual who displayed the flag,” the NFL stated to UPI, per Yahoo. “He was part of the 400-member field cast. The individual hid the item on his person and unveiled it late in the show.
“No one involved with the production was aware of the individual’s intent. The individual will be banned for life from all NFL stadiums and events.”
Roc Nation denies involvement in protest
Roc Nation, the entertainment company behind the halftime show, distanced itself from the incident. While, A spokesperson confirmed the protest was unplanned and was not part of any rehearsals.
“The protestor’s actions were neither planned nor part of the production and were never in any rehearsal,” the statement read.
Protestor explains motivation for his actions
Speaking to NBC News, Nantambu claimed his protest was motivated by his Islamic faith and solidarity with Palestinian and Sudanese people.
Additonally, he also hoped that his actions would raise awareness for those suffering in conflict zones.
“I know it would invigorate their faith, seeing somebody supporting them and thinking about them on such a grand stage,” he said. “Maybe we don’t have the military prowess to stop the war, but we can at least do what we can to help those afflicted by these atrocities.”