Super Bowl 2025: Reactions to Kendrick half-time show and Taylor Swift booing as Eagles crush Chiefs
Kendrick Lamar joined by SZA as celebrities including Paul McCartney among fans at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans
Kendrick Lamar delivered a blistering set as he headlined the 2025 Super Bowl halftime show tonight as the Philadelphia Eagles dominated the Kansas City Chiefs with a final score of 22-40.
Pop star Taylor Swift cheered on her boyfriend, Travis Kelce, but was ultimately left crestfallen as the team failed to secure a historic third consecutive Super Bowl.
Lamar was joined onstage by his frequent collaborator SZA, along with surprise guests Samuel L Jackson and Serena Williams, as he delivered a medley of favourites including his Grammy-winning Drake diss track, “Not Like Us”.
Viewers got to take part in some celebrity spotting as Swift was joined in her box by friends including rapper Ice Spice and the Haim sisters. However, her longtime pals Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds appeared to skip the event.
US President Donald Trump was also in attendance but left early after his Chiefs win prediction fell flat.
This year’s event took place in New Orleans at the Caesars Superdome.
Kendrick Lamar’s Drake-baiting was a smoke-screen – his Super Bowl show represented a righteous nation baring its teeth
Kendrick Lamar self-censors brutal Not Like Us lyrics in Super Bowl halftime performance
Trump shares video of Taylor Swift being booed at the Super Bowl: ‘The world is healing’
Patrick Mahomes reacts to Trump attending Super Bowl after Travis Kelce calls it ‘honor’
Kanye West quits X after posting Super Bowl rant about Taylor Swift
Magic Johnson praises Lamar's halftime show
Hall of Fame basketballer Earvin "Magic" Johnson loved Lamar’s storytelling and that cameo from Samuel L. Jackson.
“Kendrick Lamar brought the house down tonight in his half time performance! I loved his song selection and the production was amazing! Sza sounded great and I loved seeing my friend Serena Williams and my good friend Samuel L. Jackson as ‘Uncle Sam’”
Flavor Flav reacts to 'A Minor' lyric
“The way the WHOLE stadium just yelled “A MINOOOOOOOOOORRRRR,” Flavor Flav tweeted. He was of course referencing the lyrics in Lamar’s Drake diss, “Not Like Us.”
Watch: Aubrey Plaza makes surprise Super Bowl ad appearance with Michael Shannon
The commercial aired just over a month after her husband Jeff Baena died by suicide at the age of 47 on January 3.
Kendrick Lamar's setlist in full
- “wacced out morals”
- “Bodies (GNX snippet)”
- “Squabble Up”
- “HUMBLE.”
- “DNA.”
- “Euphoria”
- “Man at the Garden”
- “peekaboo (feat. azchike)”
- “luther (with SZA)”
- “All the Stars (with SZA)”
- “Not Like Us”
- “tv off (feat. lefty gunplay)”
Patrick Mahomes accepts responsibility for Super Bowl defeat after failing to ‘play to his standard’
Kansas City Chiefs quarter-back Patrick Mahomes took responsibility for his team’s loss in Super Bowl 59 as the Philadelphia Eagles stormed to a 40-22 win at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans.
The two-time Super Bowl champion made a flurry of errors early in the game and was sacked six times throughout the match, the most in any game of his career.
Eagles linebacker Josh Sweat in particular had an eye for the quarter-back regularly tormenting him as the Chiefs attempted to assert some control on the game.
Patrick Mahomes accepts responsibility for Super Bowl defeat
Kanye West quits X after posting Super Bowl rant about Taylor Swift
Kanye West has deleted his account from X/Twitter after he posted a rant about Taylor Swift during the Super Bowl and thanked Elon Musk for allowing him to “vent”.
He wrote: “I'm logging out of Twitter. I appreciate Elon for allowing me to vent. It has been very cathartic to use the world as a sounding board. It was like an Ayahuasca trip. Love all of you who gave me your energy and attention. To we connect again. Good afternoon and good night."
During the Super Bowl, which included Kendrick Lamar’s half-time performance, West also posted a rant about Swift, who was in the New Orleans Superdome to support her boyfriend Travis Kelce, who plays for the Kansas City Chiefs.
While appearing to talk about Lamar’s song ‘Not Like Us’, West said: “IF ITS ABOUT THE CULTURE ... WHY ARE WE LETTING TAYLOR SWIFT BE SEEN ON TV SINGING A SONG ABOUT TAKING A BLACK MAN DOWN AND ACCUSING OF THINGS THAT CAN TAKE A BLACK MAN DOWN FOR LIFE."
Kanye West quits X after posting Super Bowl rant about Taylor Swift
Serena Williams defends Taylor Swift after singer booed at 2025 Super Bowl
Serena Williams was quick to offer Taylor Swift some words of support after the singer was booed by the crowd at the 2025 Super Bowl.
The Grammy winner, 35, attended this year’s game to show her support for her Kansas City Chiefs tight end boyfriend Travis Kelce in New Orleans at the Caesars Superdome on Sunday (9 February).
However, Philadelphia Eagles fans were quick to show support for their team and began to boo the singer during the game, with Swift’s reaction caught on camera and shared widely on social media.
Serena Williams defends Taylor Swift after singer booed at 2025 Super Bowl
NFL address Kendrick Lamar dancer who waved Palestine flag during Super Bowl half-time show
The NFL has responded after a dancer unfurled a Palestine and Sudan flag during Kendrick Lamar’s performance at the Super Bowl halftime show.
The unknown man stood on top of the GNX car used by the rapper for his set, on Sunday (9 February) during a game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles.
“Gaza” and “Sudan” were painted in bold black letters on the flags, which appeared to be sewn together.
NFL address Kendrick Lamar dancer who waved Palestine flag during half-time show
Republicans lash out at Kendrick Lamar for half-time show
Kendrick Lamar’s widely praised half-time show has been criticised by Republicans and Donald Trump supporters.
Although the show was warmly received by many, it appears to have upset a few members of Congress.
Matt Gaetz wrote on X: “The halftime show you just watched is clearly the regime’s response to Trump’s historic gains with black men.” Lamar’s halftime show was announced in September.
Meanwhile, Lauren Boebert wrote: “Tell me I’m not the only one needing subtitles for this!!”
Superbowl fans stunned by Tom Cruise’s changing face in Super Bowl 2025 commercial
Superbowl fans were left stunned by Tom Cruise’s changing face as the actor kickstarted Super Bowl 2025 by starring in a football inspired commercial.
Viewers couldn’t believe how different the 62-year-old looked in the ad, which aired at the start of Sunday’s (9 February) game.
The commercial featured Cruise slowly walking into a dark room filled with video screens featuring historical NFL moments.
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