Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl Halftime Show Received 125 FCC Complaints
Several viewers cited Lamar's lyrics, choreography, and guest appearances as points of concern.
Kendrick Lamar performs onstage during Apple Music Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show at Caesars Superdome on February 9, 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Kendrick Lamar’s historic Super Bowl Halftime performance may have broken records — but it also ruffled some feathers.
The Grammy-winning rapper’s appearance at Super Bowl LIX drew 125 formal complaints to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), according to a newly obtained report cited by The Hill. Complaints ranged from accusations that the performance was “provocative dancing” to claims of “racism” and “gang affiliation,” with several viewers citing Lamar’s lyrics, choreography, and guest appearances as points of concern.
The Feb. 9 show — which made Lamar the first solo rapper to headline the Super Bowl Halftime Show — featured cuts from his acclaimed discography and his recent album GNX, including a censored version of “Not Like Us,” his widely publicized diss track aimed at Drake.
One viewer wrote that their children “should not have been subjected to seeing and hearing the language and gestures,” while another said, “It is tiresome to have to send children out of the room during what should be a family event due to possible vulgarity and inappropriate language/gestures.”
Another complaint criticized the show for being “divisive, downgrading, and filled with profanity,” while others took issue with the racial composition of the performance. One viewer wrote, “There wasn’t one white person in the whole show. They get away with it but if it was all white it would be a different story… This was a disgrace and it gets worse every year.”
A separate complaint reportedly referenced Serena Williams, who made a brief appearance during the show, alleging that her “crip-walking” promoted “gang affiliation.”
Despite the backlash, Lamar’s halftime appearance was met with widespread critical acclaim and quickly became the most-watched Super Bowl Halftime Show in history. His performance also served as a defining moment in his GNX album era, which debuted atop the chart dated Dec. 7, 2024, and returned to the top on the Feb. 22-dated chart in the wake of its physical release and Lamar’s Super Bowl LIX halftime show (Feb. 9).
From left: Joey Scolari, Tom Pistore, Keith Pelley, Wayne Zronik and Tim Leiweke speaking on State of the Industry panel at Departure at Toronto's Hotel X on May 8, 2025.Mike Highfield