During the Super Bowl 59 halftime show in New Orleans, a performer in Kendrick Lamar’s field cast was detained after displaying a flag combining the Sudanese and Palestinian flags with the words “Sudan” and “Gaza” written on it. The individual, who was part of the 400-member field cast, now faces potential charges.
The New Orleans Police Department released a statement confirming that law enforcement is currently determining applicable charges. Meanwhile, the NFL has stated that the individual will receive a lifetime ban from all NFL stadiums and events. NFL spokesperson Brian McCarthy confirmed this decision in an emailed statement.
The incident occurred when the performer stood atop a car prop used during Lamar’s set and held up the flag. According to the NFL, the individual had concealed the flag on their person and unveiled it toward the end of the performance. The league emphasized that no one involved in the production was aware of the individual’s plan.
Roc Nation, the entertainment company responsible for producing the halftime show, also clarified that the act was unscripted and was never rehearsed as part of the official performance.
Despite the disruption, the halftime show continued as planned, and there were no visible interruptions during Lamar’s performance. The broadcast did not appear to capture the individual or the flag on camera.
