The arena darkened, and a hush fell over the crowd. At the heart of New Orleans’ Caesars Superdome, a sleek silver car gleamed under the spotlight. Draped in an Uncle Sam cloak, Samuel L. Jackson took center stage, his signature smirk lighting up the mic. “Salutations!” he boomed, sending a ripple of anticipation through the air. Moments later, Kendrick Lamar—riding the high of five Grammy wins—stood ready to make history. Then, as the opening beats of ‘Not Like Us’ shook the stadium, the Super Bowl halftime show didn’t just trend online—it redefined expectations.

On February 9, Kendrick Lamar etched his name in history as the first solo rapper to headline the Super Bowl halftime show. However, within minutes, critics slammed it as the “worst halftime show ever” (Daily Mail US). Perched atop a car, Lamar delivered a medley of hits like HUMBLE and DNA., lacing his performance with pointed shots at Drake. At one moment, he teased the crowd with what they were eagerly anticipating. “I wanna play their favorite song, but you know they love to sue,” the 37-year-old quipped, taking a not-so-subtle jab at his longtime rival.

Despite these bold choices, many viewers expressed disappointment. Critics described the performance as “boring” and lacking energy. UFC fighters also joined to criticize the performance of the 37-year-old rapper. One of them was Nate Diaz who commented, “WTH? This what all the girls wore in high school #gurlpantslamar I’m playing lol it’s all Gucci lol”. In contrast to the criticism, some outlets praised Lamar’s show. Rolling Stone highlighted the performance’s theatrical elements and noted its impact, stating that Lamar “struck a chord at the Super Bowl.”

But Nate Diaz wasn’t the only fighter to take shots at the King Kunta rapper. Middleweight-turned-welterweight Joaquin Buckley wrote the following, “No matter how difficult my day might be, I just think of the Super Bowl half-time show and then I say to myself, yeah maybe it’s not too bad.” Lightweight

Overall, while Kendrick Lamar’s halftime show was a bold and theatrical endeavor, it elicited a spectrum of responses, with some viewers lauding its creativity and others expressing dissatisfaction. However, the fans don’t quite agree with the criticism he has faced. Lamar has always been a fan- favorite and the fans once again came out in support of the rapper.

Fans come out in support of Kendrick Lamar after UFC fighters target him online

In the age of social media, criticism has become an inescapable reality for celebrities. Every move they make—on stage, on screen, or even in their personal lives—is scrutinized by millions. While fame brings admiration, it also invites relentless judgment, often magnified by the internet’s unforgiving nature. Social media amplifies negativity, turning minor flaws into trending topics and overshadowing years of hard work. However, this time things are a bit different for Kendrick Lamar. Let us take a look at what the fans had to say.

The fighters were not the only ones who directed criticism but rather they also faced some harsh reality checks by a user, “Bunch of talentless jocks hating” After Nate Diaz picked on the clothes of the 37-year-old, one user came out in the latter’s support and commented, “I thought he looked good in those jeans lol”  UFC fighter Joaquin Buckley also received flak for his comments as one user took time to mock him with, “Buckley cries about everything”.

It’s very difficult to find a hundred percent support on social media and there were negative comments about the performance itself. Examples of the negative reactions to Lamar’s performance were seen in comments like, “Worst Super Bowl performance of all time”, “He obeys his masters” and, “Lames always gonna have something to complain about” 

Hilarious one user took a dig at the evolution of men’s fashion choices in the 21st century. Commenting on Lamar’s bell-bottom jeans, one user wrote, “Prefer these to the tight ones guys are wearing”.

Yet, for all the backlash, celebrities also find unwavering support. Fans rally behind their idols, pushing back against unfair criticism and reminding the world that even stars are human. The challenge for public figures is to navigate this never-ending cycle—learning when to listen, when to ignore, and when to rise above. What do you feel about Kendrick Lamar’s halftime performance? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.