The Super Bowl halftime performer who displayed the Sudanese and Palestinian flags in protest during Sunday night's performance in New Orleans will face a lifetime ban from all NFL stadiums and events, as confirmed by a league spokesperson. The protester, part of Kendrick Lamar's halftime show, acted independently without coordination with show organizers.
The protest took place towards the end of Lamar's set, during his performance of the song 'tv off.' The individual, dressed in black like the surrounding dancers, was seen holding a combination of the Sudanese and Palestinian flags reading 'Sudan' and 'Gaza,' respectively.
Footage captured the protester standing on a stage car before running onto the field with the flags, where security personnel intervened. Although briefly visible during the broadcast, the protester's identity remains undisclosed.
New Orleans police described the protester as an adult Black man who was ejected from the stadium without arrest or summons. The NOPD is collaborating with the NFL and halftime production team to determine any affiliation with the show.
Roc Nation, the entertainment adviser to the NFL, stated that the protest was unplanned and did not occur during rehearsals. The demonstration highlighted the ongoing conflicts in Sudan and Gaza, where humanitarian crises have affected millions.
In Gaza, extensive destruction has occurred over the past 16 months due to Israeli responses to attacks by Hamas. Thousands of Palestinians have lost their lives, and a significant portion of the population has been displaced, according to the United Nations.
Meanwhile, Sudan is grappling with a civil war between two generals, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, resulting in numerous casualties and displacements. The conflict, escalating since April 2023, has been labeled as one of the world's worst humanitarian catastrophes, with both sides accused of war crimes.
Outgoing-Secretary of State Antony Blinken recently accused the RSF of committing genocide, marking Sudan's second genocide in less than three decades. The protester's actions shed light on these critical issues, sparking discussions on the global stage.
