Performer in Kendrick Lamar's Super Bowl halftime show arrested after waving 'Sudan-Gaza' flag

Louisiana State Police have confirmed the arrest of Zul-Qarnain Kwame Nantambu, a performer in Kendrick Lamar's halftime show at the Super Bowl on February 9.

The 41-year-old faces charges of resisting law enforcement and "disturbing the peace by interruption of a lawful assembly", as stated by officials.

During Lamar's performance of 'TV Off', Nantambu deviated from the choreography, standing on a car and waving a Palestinian and Sudanese flag. When security tried to intervene, the dancer resisted before being detained by New Orleans police.

 

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“Security and law enforcement personnel on site quickly recognised the unauthorised action and apprehended the performer after he refused to comply with their commands to stop," said law enforcement.

At first, Nantambu was released without charges but received a lifelong ban from NFL stadiums and events. In a comment to NBC News, Nantambu described his protest as aimed at creating awareness about the humanitarian crises in Sudan and Gaza.

After the incident, NFL Vice President of Communications Brian McCarthy claimed that "no one involved with the production was aware of the individual’s intent."

Similarly, Roc Nation, the producers of the halftime performance, stated that Natambu's protest “was neither planned nor part of the production and was never in any rehearsal”.