During Kendrick Lamar's 2025 Super Bowl Halftime Show, a significant and unauthorized incident occurred involving a member of his dance crew. Towards the culmination of Lamar's history-making performance, which featured a vast 400-strong cast of dancers and models spread across the New Orleans Superdome field, one individual diverted from the planned choreography. While Kendrick Lamar performed 'TV Off' alongside DJ-producer Mustard, a dancer, predominantly clad in all-black attire like the rest of the cast, unfurled a Palestinian flag. This flag bore the additional words “Sudan” and “Gaza” on it.

The dancer then dramatically leaped off the stage, running across the field while actively waving the flag. This impromptu protest immediately drew the attention of security personnel, who quickly pursued the at-the-time unidentified man. The chase concluded with security successfully tackling him to the ground, after which he was promptly escorted off the field, marking a sudden and unexpected end to his participation in the event.

Following the incident, a four-month investigation was initiated by the Louisiana State Police. This probe led to the identification of the individual as Zul-Qarnain Kwame Nantambu. A warrant for his arrest was subsequently issued, and Nantambu, aged 41, eventually turned himself in through coordination with his attorney after being identified by Variety.

Nantambu was arrested on Thursday, June 26, under a warrant obtained through the Orleans Parish Criminal District Court. He was formally booked into the Orleans Parish Justice Center. The charges against him include resisting an officer and disturbing the peace by interrupting a lawful assembly. Officials confirmed that security and law enforcement personnel on site recognized the unauthorized action swiftly and apprehended Nantambu after he refused to comply with their commands to cease his actions.

Both the National Football League (NFL) and Roc Nation, the producers of the Halftime Show, released statements regarding the incident. A spokesperson for the NFL commended security for their quick response in detaining the individual. They clarified that Nantambu was indeed part of the 400-member field cast and had concealed the flag, unveiling it late in the show without any prior knowledge or intent shared with the production team. Roc Nation echoed this sentiment, stating unequivocally that the protest “was neither planned nor part of the production and was never in any rehearsal,” underscoring the completely unauthorized nature of Nantambu's actions.