A member of Kendrick Lamar's halftime show cast was detained after displaying Palestinian and Sudanese flags during Sunday's Super Bowl LVIII performance in Las Vegas. The incident occurred during Lamar's closing song "tv off".
Video footage shows the individual unfurling two connected flags marked "Sudan" and "Gaza" while standing atop one of the performance's black vehicles. The protester then ran across the field for several minutes before security intervened.
The NFL confirmed the person was among the show's 400-person field ensemble but had concealed the flags beforehand. "No production staff knew of these plans," the organization stated, announcing a lifetime ban from NFL venues for the unnamed protester.
Show producer Roc Nation issued a statement emphasizing the display wasn't part of rehearsals or the planned performance. Lamar, who hasn't previously spoken about either conflict, has not addressed the incident.
The demonstration comes amid ongoing crises in both regions. Sudan's civil war between military forces and the RSF has killed an estimated 61,000 people. In Gaza, recent hostage exchanges continue during a temporary ceasefire, while infrastructure remains largely destroyed. The Gaza Health Ministry reports 61,709 deaths, including 17,949 children.
The protest also followed former President Donald Trump's recent proposal to relocate Gaza civilians - a plan critics say amounts to ethnic cleansing. Trump attended Sunday's game.
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Soufiene El Boub
was born and raised in France, where he also pursued his education. With a lifelong passion for sports and storytelling, Soufiene has become a sports editor, known for his insightful analysis writing. His unique perspective, shaped by his French upbringing, adds a distinctive flair to his work in the world of sports journalism.