Kendrick Lamar was forced to censor one lyric during Super Bowl half-time show due to 'threat of lawsuit'

Kendrick Lamar was forced to censor one lyric during his Super Bowl half-time show performance due to the 'threat of lawsuit'.

The multi-award-winning music artist was booked to perform at the Caesars Superdrome in New Orleans during the interval of the Super Bowl between Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles.

It ended in a surprise 40-22 win for the Eagles, with Chiefs star quarterback Patrick Mahomes enduring what is being regarded as the worst performance of his career.

But the Chiefs offensive line was also dominated as Eagles took control of the game in the first quarter and never relinquished it, intercepting Mahomes' attempted passes on several occasions and indirectly causing rare unforced errors from their reigning Super Bowl champion opponents.

At half-time, Lamar performed the 'Not Like Us' diss track, while his sidekick SZA, Samuel L. Jackson, Serena Williams and DJ Mustard all made surprise cameos.

The 37-year-old was not paid for his performance as is tradition, though the NFL do help to cover the estimated $10-20 million worth of production costs.

While he sung the diss track, Lamar decided to omit one particular lyric from the song.

The other, which references allegations surrounding nemesis Drake's interactions with younger women, goes as follows: "Certified Lover Boy [the name of Drake's 2021 album]? Certified paedophile." There is no evidence surrounding Lamar's accusation in the lyric.

KENDRICK LAMAR NAMEDROPPED DRAKE AT THE #SuperBowl
pic.twitter.com/CnWbhkwysN

— BAY AREA STATE OF MIND (@YayAreaNews) February 10, 2025

Drake sued the Universal Music Group record label - which represents Lamar - for defamation over the track. Lamar is not named in the suit.

The suit claims that Universal knew that the allegations were false and states that they 'approved, published and launched a campaign to create a viral hit out of a rap track' and that the lyric 'intended to convey the specific, unmistakable, and false factual allegation that Drake is a criminal paedophile, and to suggest that the public should resort to vigilante justice in response'.

Gordon Hirsch, from Hirsch Law Group, spoke to LADbible ahead of the Super Bowl performance about whether Drake could sue Lamar over the song if he included the lyrics.

He said: "If Kendrick performs the song with the controversial lyrics, he risks legal action.

"A lawsuit could lead to financial damages, and even if he ultimately wins, he would still have to spend time and money fighting the case.

"Given the stakes, Kendrick should think twice before performing these lyrics on one of the biggest stages in the world."