The 37-year-old American rapper’s halftime performance at Super Bowl LIX delivered more than just music—it sparked a social media frenzy with a surprise guest.

Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl Halftime Show featured an unexpected moment that quickly became a viral sensation. The rapper, known for his deep ties to Compton, California, closed out his set with a surprise appearance by tennis legend Serena Williams.

Williams took the stage while Lamar performed his song “Not Like Us,” a track widely recognized for its role in his ongoing feud with Canadian rapper Drake. As the music played, Williams was seen dancing, including a signature c-walk, which instantly grabbed the attention of viewers and social media users.

The moment sparked widespread reactions online, with many commenting on Williams’ presence and dance moves.

On X, one user wrote,“Also, Serena Williams is so disrespectful.” Another added,“Serena Williams [sic] crip walking was the ultimate act of disrespect.” A different user reacted by saying,“Serena Williams crip walking during not like us is insane [sic].”

Some saw it as a major occurrence, with one comment reading,“The highlight of the performance.” However, others criticized the moment, with a user stating,“Leaving your one year old daughter at home, to come and hate on your ex from a decade ago [sic].” Another simply called it,“Cringe and embarrassing in my opinion.”

Reactions on Instagram were also divided. One fan praised Williams’ appearance, “She looked immaculate!” Meanwhile, someone else called it the “Best part of the show! Lol.”

Williams’ comment referenced a similar moment from her past. During the London 2012 Olympics, she performed a brief dance on Wimbledon’s grass court after defeating Maria Sharapova in the gold medal match. At the time, her celebration sparked criticism, with some arguing that the move was inappropriate for such a setting.

The dance in question, known as the crip-walk or C-walk, has deep cultural roots. Originating in Los Angeles in the 1980s, it was initially used as a symbolic form of communication among members of the Crips, one of the city’s most well-known gangs. Over time, the dance evolved and was later popularized in hip-hop culture, eventually becoming a widely recognized dance style by the late 1990s.

Serena Williams’ unexpected appearance added a new layer of discussion to an already highly anticipated performance, fueling debates across social media.

While Williams’ dance moves stole the spotlight, Kendrick Lamar’s performance as a whole became the center of a heated debate.

Lamar took center stage at Super Bowl LIX’s halftime show on February 9, 2025, delivering a high-energy performance that quickly became a topic of debate among viewers.

The rapper, known for his intricate lyricism and commanding stage presence, performed some of his biggest hits, including “Humble,” “Squabble Up,” and “Not Like Us,” a track widely recognized as a diss toward fellow rapper Drake.

The official Apple Music Halftime Show Instagram page celebrated the moment, sharing posts like “IT’S K-D-O-T…” and “@KendrickLamar and @SZA are the moment.” Clips from the performance, including a video of Lamar rapping “Humble,” quickly circulated online.f

Despite the star power and bold setlist, the show received mixed reviews from fans. While some appreciated Lamar’s artistry, others were less impressed, with many taking to social media to voice their disappointment.

On Instagram, some viewers criticized the performance. One user wrote,“Might be the worst halftime show of all time [sic].” Another commented,“This halftime show was boring.”

Reddit users also weighed in with similar sentiments. One viewer shared,“I was excited for it, and found this utterly underwhelming.” Another said,“Turned the channel during this [sic].” A third comment read,“In front of the president [sic] …”

Over on X (formerly Twitter), reactions varied, but criticism was prevalent. One person wrote,“Kendrick ruined the sb halftime show. Sza too fine to ruin anything [sic].”

Another user commented,“I find Kendrick Lamar cringe. His voice is gimmicky to me. His whole Art [sic] feels cartoonish. Not sure how else to say this. And I don’t think Drake is exceptional by the way.”

“Kendrick Lamar so mid, his voice so annoying [sic],” another viewer posted. One user asked,“Tell me I’m not the only one needing subtitles for this!!” Another added,“Lil Wayne should have been the halftime performer. Kendrick was straight-up mumbling.”

The halftime performance continues to be a hot topic, with fans debating whether Kendrick Lamar’s unique style was fitting for such a massive stage.

Beyond the performance itself, Lamar’s jewelry choice became a topic of discussion. The rapper was spotted wearing a chain featuring a lowercase letter “a,” which quickly led to online speculation about its meaning.

Some fans interpreted it as a subtle jab at Drake, whose real name is Aubrey Graham. Others believed it referenced Lamar’s song “Not Like Us,” which contains the lyric, “Tryna strike a chord and it’s probably A minor,” referring to a musical note. The debate took off on social media.

One user asked,“what does the lowercase ‘a’ that kendrick lamar is wearing on his chain mean [sic]?” Another pointed out,“Ya’ll catch the lowercase ‘a’ chain?!? The pettiness from Kendrick Lamar is unmatched [sic].”

“not kendrick being shady with the chainnnn [sic],” someone else posted. One user commented,“Kendrick Lamar wearing a lower case A (a minor) chain is diabolical work.”

However, not everyone saw it as a direct shot at Drake. Some fans clarified that the “a” symbol actually comes from the logo of Lamar’s company, pgLang. Founded by Lamar and Dave Free, pgLang is a creative services company focused on music, visual media, and technology. The name stands for “Program Language.”

The discussion led to divided opinions. “The ‘a’ chain is from the logo of Kendrick’s company (PGlang) not ‘a-minor’… “ one user explained. Another countered,“I didn’t think I needed to explain this, but no, it was an ‘a minor’ chain. It was a pgLang chain.”

Some speculated it was a deeper message. “If we’re being honest it seemed like Kendrick Lamar’s whole superbowl performance was based around Drake. The songs, the shade, him bringing out Serena Williams, down to the ‘A’ chain around his neck standing for ‘Aubrey’. That proves who the GOAT really is [sic].”

Kendrick Lamar’sSuper Bowl halftime show sparked intense debate, with fans split over his performance, song choices, and even his jewelry, keeping the discussion alive well after the game.