Kendrick Lamar censors explicit Drake lyrics but brings out rapper’s famous ex during Super Bowl halftime show

Kendrick Lamar has taken aim at Drake again during his Super Bowl halftime show (Picture: Emilee Chinn/ Getty Images)

Kendrick Lamar has again taken aim at Drake despite censoring his famous diss track accusing the rapper of being a paedophile.

Overnight Kendrick, 37, took to the stage at the 80,000-capacity Caesar Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana as the headline act for the 2025 Super Bowl’s halftime show.

The performance is expected to have reached 120 million TV viewers who had tuned in to see the Kansas City Chiefs take on the Philadelphia Eagles, with the latter winning 40-22.

In the lead-up, there was significant speculation he’d perform his single Not Like Us, which was released last year and took his beef with Drake, 38, to another level.

In the track, which recently won two Grammy awards and five in total, sees Kendrick say Drake ‘likes ‘em young’ and goes on to allege: ‘Certified Lover Boy, certified paedophiles.’

During the halftime show, Kendrick teased the song with several false starts before launching into it during his 13-minute set.

He performed his diss track Not Like Us, but censored the most explicit lyrics (Picture: Gregory Shamus/ Getty Images)

In the performance he directly addressed his rival, rapping the lines ‘Say, Drake, I hear you like ‘em young’ and ‘tryna strike a chord, and it’s probably A minor’, with the crowd roaring back in return.

However, he did censor the most controversial and explicit line, avoiding calling Drake a paedophile, which he does in the recording and has previously done during other live performances.

Instead, he rapped: ‘Certified Lover Boy? Certified …’ before cutting himself off with a pre-recorded screaming sound at the point before he’d usually drop the allegation.

Despite this Kendrick didn’t miss his chance to poke at Drake in another way too – by bringing out the Canadian rapper’s ex-girlfriend, tennis superstar Serena Williams.

The rappers have had longstanding beef (Picture: Frazer Harrison/ Getty Images) Kendrick invited Drake’s ex Serena Williams on stage too (Picture: Kevin Mazur/ Getty Images for Roc Nation)

Serena, 43, who was rumoured to have dated Drake about a decade ago, appeared on stage to dance in the middle of the song Not Like Us, later posting a video getting her make-up done backstage and writing: ‘Let’s go Super Bowl halftime??! I died a little!’

Drake, who is currently on tour in Australia, has not responded to the halftime show, but around the same time posted a series of photos of himself on stage to Instagram.

Kendrick’s halftime show also featured other famous faces. Although it had only previously been announced SZA would join him on stage, Samuel L. Jackson also made a surprise appearance.

Samuel L. Jackson made a surprise appearance as Uncle Sam (Picture: Gregory Shamus/ Getty Images) The actor told Kendrick to stop being ‘too reckless and too ghetto’ (Picture: Patrick Smith/ Getty Images)

The 76-year-old actor dressed as Uncle Sam, a 19th century symbol of American patriotism, and jokingly referenced wanting to rein in Kendrick to present a more ‘appropriate’ performance.

‘No no no no no! Too loud, too reckless — too ghetto! Mr. Lamar, do you really know how to play the game? Then tighten up!’ he quipped.

As part of the act Kendrick then launched into two of his biggest hits, Humble and DNA, being joined on stage with dancers wearing red, white and blue streetwear and positioned in the shape of the American flag.

At one point the actor added, ‘Thats what America wants! Nice and calm. You’re almost there don’t mess this…’ before being cut off as Kendrick launched into Not Like Us.

During the halftime show, a protestor carrying a Palestinian flag also stormed the stage and get on top of a car that was being used as a prop.

SZA also performed during with Kendrick during his 13-minute set (Picture: Patrick Smith/ Getty Images) Taylor Swift was spotted in the stands supporting partner Travis Kelce with Ice Spice (Picture: Jamie Squire/ Getty Images) Louis Tomlinson also attended the event (Picture: Cindy Ord/ Getty Images) Kevin Costner was seen taking a snap on the field (Picture: Gregory Shamus/ Getty Images) Paul Rudd was also at the game (Picture: Cooper Neill/ Getty Images) Miles Teller and Pete Davidson were photographed together too (Picture: Kevin Mazur/ Getty Images for Roc Nation)

Happening during the end of the set, they danced along to the song TV Off while waving the flag before security chased them around the field, tackling them to the ground and removing them from the venue.

Although this is Kendrick’s first time headlining the Super Bowl halftime show, also making history as the first solo hi-hop artist to do so, he was also a guest during Snoop Dogg and Dr Dre’s 2022 headline slot where he performed his 2015 song Alright.

Countless celebrities were also spotted attending the game, including Taylor Swift – whose partner Travis Kelce’s team lost the Super Bowl. She was seen with Ice Spice, while other famous faces there included Louis Tomlinson, Kevin Costner, Paul Rudd, Pete Davidson, Miles Teller and Martha Stewart.

Also in attendance was Bradley Cooper, Beyonce and Jay Z, Lady Gaga, Post Malone and Anne Hathaway.

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