Super Bowl LIX may be over, but the fallout is only just beginning.
And a huge talking point came out of the Halftime Show, thanks to Serena Williams and her unexpected on-stage moment with Kendrick Lamar.
The tennis legend shocked fans when she joined the rapper during his performance of ‘Not Like Us’ and broke into the crip walk, a dance move with deep ties to West Coast hip-hop and street culture.
As well as being a well-publicized diss track against rap rival Drake, Williams also dated Drake in the early-to-mid 2000s — making the entire performance a savage shot at the ‘Hotline Bling’ star.
Williams, 42, has shown off her crip walk before — but never on a stage this big. And after the clip went viral, she couldn’t help but poke fun at herself, posting on social media.
“Man, I did not crip walk like that at Wimbledon, I would’ve been fined,” she joked in a video posted to X.
Her playful response only added fuel to what has become one of the most talked-about moments of the night.
Why Was Serena on Stage?
Lamar’s Super Bowl Halftime Show was already expected to be a spectacle, with SZA joining him for a powerhouse performance. But Williams’ surprise appearance sent social media into a frenzy.
Not only does Williams share Compton roots with Lamar, but her presence also carried an extra layer of significance — she was dancing to a diss track aimed at her ex, Drake. The two were rumored to have dated between 2010 and 2015, and their history was further cemented when Drake confirmed that his 2016 hit ‘Too Good’ was inspired by Williams.
Seeing Williams confidently crip walking to ‘Not Like Us’ — a track that has been at the center of one of the biggest rap feuds in years — felt like the ultimate power move.
“Kendrick getting Serena Williams to crip walk while performing Not Like Us is nasty work,” one fan tweeted.
Another added: “The Serena Williams crip walk during Not Like Us was a wild flex by Kendrick.”
Social Media Reacts
And, as you’d expect, social media exploded over the moment:
Williams vs. Drake: A Long-Running Feud
While Williams may not be a direct player in the Drake vs. Kendrick Lamar rap war, she’s taken her own jabs at the Canadian rapper before.
During the 2024 ESPY Awards last summer, she made a not-so-subtle reference to Drake’s ongoing battle with Lamar, joking: “And if I’ve learned anything this year, not a single one of us, not even me, should ever pick a fight with Kendrick Lamar. He will make your hometown not like you.”
She then crip walked on stage to ‘Not Like Us’ — setting the stage for her now-viral Super Bowl reprise.
“The next time Drake sits courtside at a Raptors game, they’re gonna Forest Gump him, seats taken,” she added.
Lamar’s Halftime Show Was Always Going to Be Personal
Ahead of the game, fans speculated whether Lamar would perform ‘Not Like Us’ — given the ongoing legal battle between Drake and Universal Music Group (UMG).
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Last month, Drake filed a defamation lawsuit against UMG, accusing the label of publishing and promoting Not Like Us in a way that damaged his reputation. Lamar is signed to Interscope, which, like Drake’s Republic Records, operates under the UMG umbrella.
UMG responded swiftly, stating: “Not only are these claims untrue, but the notion that we would seek to harm the reputation of any artist — let alone Drake — is illogical.”
Despite the lawsuit, Lamar doubled down at Super Bowl LIX, performing the track in front of a record-breaking audience – as well as having thousands in attendance singing along with the controversial lyrics.
A Halftime Show for the Ages
When asked ahead of the game what fans could expect from his halftime performance, Lamar kept it simple: “Storytelling,” he said at a press conference.
“I’ve always been very open about storytelling through all my catalog and my history of music. And I’ve always had a passion about bringing that on whatever stage I’m on.”
If his goal was to create a moment that would be talked about for years, he definitely delivered.
From his Grammy-winning track turning into a viral Super Bowl anthem to Serena Williams’ perfectly timed crip walk, Lamar’s halftime show wasn’t just a performance — it was a statement.
