NFL regrets picking Kendrick Lamar for Super Bowl halftime show: 'A mistake was made'

The NFL is facing backlash over its decision to select Kendrick Lamar for this year’s Super Bowl halftime show in New Orleans, with reports indicating the league now regrets not choosing hometown artist Lil Wayne instead.

Lamar’s performance at Caesars Superdome during the Philadelphia Eagles’ 40-22 win over the Kansas City Chiefs received mixed reactions, with some fans calling it "the worst Super Bowl halftime show ever," reports the Daily Mail. The controversy was further fueled by the fact that Lil Wayne, a New Orleans native, was reportedly overlooked for the event despite his strong ties to both the city and the league.

According to sports commentator Skip Bayless, the NFL issued a formal apology to Lil Wayne after announcing Lamar as the halftime performer. "The NFL immediately sent Wayne a letter of apology," Bayless said on his YouTube show. "A letter that thanked him for his years of supporting the league, not just the Packers, his favorite team, but supporting and promoting the NFL in general."

"He will watch the game, just not the halftime show. Not one second."

"When the news first broke, it hit Wayne hard," Bayless said of Lil Wayne. "He didn't feel like doing much of anything for several long days and nights. He's better now."

A league employee has since admitted that passing over Lil Wayne was a "mistake," according to the Mail. An employee of the NFL said, “A mistake was made and we regret the choice that was made. Lil Wayne should have been the first option, as he is from New Orleans and we know that there was a clear motivation for him and his side to do a unique show in his town."

The outlet reported that another person familiar with the matter added, “Lil Wayne was the obvious choice, and the choice made wasn't the best one at all.” Another employee told reporters that the choice was the "wrong one" to make for the Super Bowl. Leading up to the game, Bayless spoke about Wayne's disappointment in getting snubbed on the halftime show.

"I blame myself for not being mentally prepared for a letdown and for just automatically mentally putting myself in that position," Wayne said in an Instagram Live stream, where he opened up about the experience. "I thought there was nothing better than that spot, that stage, that platform, in my city. So it hurt, it hurt a whole lot."

Moving forward, the NFL reportedly plans to prioritize selecting artists with stronger connections to the host city.