Zul-Qarnain Kwame Nantambu, a 41-year-old performer from New Orleans, has been arrested following his high-profile protest during Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl halftime show in February.
Nantambu, who was part of the official production, stunned organizers and viewers when he dashed across the field carrying a flag that combined the Sudanese and Palestinian colors, emblazoned with the words “Free Gaza.” Security swiftly intercepted him, tackling him to the ground before he was detained.
Although Nantambu had permission to be on the field as a performer, his unauthorized demonstration triggered an immediate investigation. Authorities issued a warrant soon after the incident, and Nantambu voluntarily surrendered. He now faces charges of resisting an officer and disturbing the peace.
The NFL responded firmly to the disruption, releasing a statement emphasizing its zero-tolerance stance on such interruptions. League officials expressed satisfaction that Nantambu would be held accountable. In addition to the criminal proceedings, the NFL has imposed a lifetime ban, barring him from attending any future games or league events.
As of now, Nantambu has not addressed the arrest publicly. Kendrick Lamar, who headlined the historic halftime performance, has remained silent on the matter.
Lamar’s show, however, made headlines for more than the on-field protest. His performance broke long-standing records, drawing an unprecedented 133.5 million viewers. This figure surpassed Michael Jackson’s previous halftime show record of 133 million set in 1993.
Lamar’s appearance also boosted viewership by more than 3 percent compared to Usher’s performance the year prior. The game itself, featuring the Philadelphia Eagles’ victory over the Kansas City Chiefs, became the most-watched Super Bowl in history. On average, 126 million people tuned in, with viewership peaking at 135.7 million during the second quarter.
Speculation swirled in the days leading up to the halftime show over whether Lamar would perform his explosive Drake diss track, “Not Like Us.” Despite the threat of legal action, the song featured prominently in his set. Lamar did choose to omit the infamous “certified pedophile” line but still peppered his performance with pointed shots at Drake.
The combination of record-breaking viewership, political controversy, and rap rivalry ensured this Super Bowl halftime show will be remembered as one of the most dramatic in recent memory.
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