After The Weeknd’s incredible 2021 Super Bowl halftime show, fans were hoping for a bit of the same in 2025 from his hip-hop colleague. With fresh Grammy wins under his belt, Kendrick Lamar took center stage—literally, on top of a car—staying true to the gritty aesthetic. But what was supposed to be an electrifying performance quickly turned controversial.

Lamar’s sharp jabs at a beloved rapper didn’t sit well with the audience, turning excitement into backlash. NFL fans weren’t the only ones fuming—NASCAR die-hards joined in, making it one of the most criticized halftime shows in recent history. NASCAR veteran Mark Martin, who had hyped the show to no end, got his wishes with Lamar’s song choice, but overall, it didn’t seem to live up to the hype.

Bright lights and colorful dancers, yet a disastrous show

From the moment Samuel L. Jackson, dressed as “Uncle Sam,” introduced him, it was clear Lamar had a message to send. Performing atop a car, he delivered a medley of hits, including Not Like Us, the diss track that culminated his feud with Drake. While he softened some lyrics, he still threw sharp jabs, subtly referencing the legal battle between Drake and Universal Music Group.

Visually, the show was striking. Backup dancers in red, white, and blue formed an American flag, adding layers of symbolism. Yet, despite the high-energy choreography and a surprise appearance from SZA, something didn’t click. The stadium atmosphere was eerily quiet, and online reactions were brutal. Critics called it disjointed, overly political, and lacking universal appeal. Just a few minutes into the show and NASCAR veteran, took to his X account and posted, “Will @kendricklamar do Not Like Us? 🔥” This post indicated how excited Mark Martin was to witness the rapper take a jab at Drake. 

Remember the time when Mark Martin took to his X account and posted, “Drake is soft like tissue paper?” However, sadly enough, Kendrick Lamar did not keep up with the expectations. Although Lamar is the first solo hip hop artist to headline at the Super Bowl Halftime show, minutes into the show it trended as the “worst performance in the history of Super Bowl”. 

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NASCAR community joins in the diss fest 

A performance that was anticipated to break the internet ended up shattering expectations like never before. Among the first from the NASCAR community who called out the deplorable performance from Lamar is NASCAR spotter, Brett Griffin. Calling out the stint but in a respectful way, Griffin tweeted, “No disrespect to the artist but whoever picked that for a halftime show should be fired. That was the worst one ever…..” 

Griffin wasn’t the only one. Soon more fans jumped onto the bandwagon calling out the lack of entertaining elements in the show. NASCAR enthusiast Scot C. Ford Jr. commented, “It was well done. Just not very entertaining for me. Each his own tho.” 

NASCAR analyst Larry McReynolds critiqued the entertainment aspect of the show. Given the low energy and engagement with the audience, he tweeted, “My comment about that halftime show has nothing to do with age, or nothing else! I actually enjoyed recent performances by Usher & The Weekend, but that was the worse entertainment I’ve seen at a Super Bowl HalfTime!” Once the rapper was done with it, he again posted, “The best thing about this halftime show is……..It’s Over!!!!!!” 

With NASCAR voices joining the chorus of criticism, Lamar’s halftime show didn’t just divide music fans, it managed to disappoint even those who had no stakes in the hip-hop rivalry.