Samuel L. Jackson Reveals What He Really Thought of Kendrick Lamar’s Halftime Show

Samuel L. Jackson is opening up about his unexpected and powerful involvement in Kendrick Lamar’s record-breaking Super Bowl LIX halftime show. Speaking on the “Mad Sad Bad” podcast hosted by Paloma Faith, the actor revealed that he had little idea of the deeper message behind the performance when he first signed on.

Jackson portrayed Uncle Sam during the show, but admitted that it wasn’t until dress rehearsal that the full context of his role became clear. “See, I didn’t know what they were doing,” he told Faith.

“It was kinda trippy because it wasn’t until dress rehearsal that I looked up and I looked on that stage and I go, ‘Oh sh—t, that’s a flag. Ah, f—k, we’re being revolutionaries.’ Because I wasn’t listening or paying attention.”

The halftime show took a bold and unapologetically political stance. Lamar used his platform to reflect on the Black experience in America. Jackson acted as a narrator throughout the performance, echoing his similar role in the 2015 Spike Lee film “Chi-Raq.”

A Historic, Politically Charged Performance by Samuel L. Jackson

The show also featured appearances from SZA, Mustard, and Serena Williams. It created a diverse lineup of talent that captivated and shocked audiences. The performance drew praise while sparking conversation for its commentary on civil rights, hip-hop culture, and racial injustice.

Lamar’s halftime show broke records, becoming the most-watched halftime performance in Super Bowl history with 133.5 million domestic viewers across all platforms. It officially surpassed Michael Jackson’s iconic 1993 show.

The “Star Wars” actor also revealed that the performance was meant to change the perspective of audiences, after it centered on hip-hop, the Black community, and civil rights.

“I realized you’re being put in this place for a reason and you’re being dressed this way for a reason, and you are a part of change,” Jackson said. “This is an awesome moment of change for people sitting there watching a game—or people who don’t even turn it on until halftime because all they want to see is the show.”

An Unintended Super Bowl Revolutionary Act

Looking back, Jackson acknowledged the deeper meaning of his role and the responsibility that came with it. “Something about me or my persona has put me in the right place at the right time in a lot of different moments in my life,” he shared.

“I have to accept that that’s what I’m meant to be sometimes—an agent of change, whether I know it or not.”

He closed with a powerful thought, saying, “I want to be on the right side of history in terms of what’s going on, and sometimes it’s not by choice. But if I’m part of something that inspires or sparks change, then I’m proud of that.”

The post Samuel L. Jackson Reveals What He Really Thought of Kendrick Lamar’s Halftime Show appeared first on EntertainmentNow.