At the Super Bowl LIX halftime show on February 9, 2025, tennis legend Serena Williams made a surprise appearance during Kendrick Lamar’s performance at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans. Williams joined Lamar on stage, dancing to his Grammy-winning track “Not Like Us,” a song known for its disses aimed at rapper Drake. This collaboration was particularly notable given Williams’ past association with Drake, with whom she was romantically linked in 2015.
Williams’ dance during the performance was a nod to her and Lamar’s shared roots in Compton, California. Lamar even references Williams in the song, rapping, “From Alondra down to Central, better not speak on Serena.”
Following the performance, Williams took to social media to express her excitement. She shared a video on Instagram showcasing her preparations and dance practice, captioning it, “Let’s go Super Bowl halftime??! I died a little!” In a follow-up post, she humorously referenced her 2012 Wimbledon controversy, where she performed a celebratory dance after defeating Maria Sharapova, which had been criticized by some as inappropriate. She wrote, “Man, I did not crip walk like that at Wimbledon. Oooh, I would’ve been fined! It was all love.”
Lamar’s halftime show was a star-studded event, featuring appearances by SZA and Samuel L. Jackson. His setlist included hits like “DNA,” “Humble,” “Squabble Up,” and “All the Stars.” Notably, during “Not Like Us,” Lamar altered the lyrics, omitting the word “pedophile,” which had previously led to a lawsuit from Drake against UMG for defamation.
The performance sparked significant online reaction, with fans praising Williams’ dance moves and noting the layered significance of her appearance during a song targeting her former associate. Some social media users humorously speculated about Drake’s reaction to the performance.
In addition to her halftime show appearance, Williams made headlines earlier in the evening by defending Taylor Swift after the singer was booed on the Jumbotron. Williams tweeted, “I love you @taylorswift13 dont listen to those booo!!”
Overall, Serena Williams’ unexpected cameo added a memorable highlight to Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl halftime performance, blending sports and music while nodding to personal histories and shared cultural backgrounds.
