Noel Gallagher has branded Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl halftime show as “absolute nonsense”, revealing he switched it off after just two minutes.
The former Oasis star made his comments during an appearance on TalkSPORT on Tuesday evening.
Speaking to hosts Andy Goldstein and Darren Bent, the 57-year-old rock musician was swift in his dismissal of the American rapper’s performance.
“I had to switch it off. It was absolute nonsense”, Gallagher told the sports radio station.
The criticism comes as Lamar made history with his 15-minute set at Sunday’s Super Bowl, which featured appearances from several high-profile guests.
Elaborating on his criticism, Gallagher explained his specific objection to the opening moments of the show.
“I didn’t watch it all, I just switched it off. There was like 300 people getting out of a car in the first two minutes”, he said.
The Manchester-born musician made it clear his dislike extends beyond this particular performance.
“I don’t like the halftime nonsense, it’s usually artists I don’t like”, Gallagher stated.
When asked about his favourite past Super Bowl halftime performances, he was equally dismissive.
We’ve broken the record again! The most watched Apple Music Halftime show EVER, with 133.5 Million viewers. pic.twitter.com/CfRQGUuG31
— Roc Nation (@RocNation) February 11, 2025
“I never watch it, I’m not interested in it”, he added.
Despite Gallagher’s criticism, Lamar’s performance has secured its place in television history.
The show drew an unprecedented 133.5 million viewers between 8:30-8:45pm, making it the most-watched Super Bowl half-time show ever.
This record-breaking viewership surpassed the previous benchmark set by Michael Jackson’s iconic 1993 performance.
The achievement marks another milestone for Lamar, who also made history as the first solo rapper to headline the coveted half-time slot.
The performance has already been ranked by NME as the third-best Super Bowl show of all time, behind only Michael Jackson and Prince’s 2007 performance.
Noel Gallagher has ripped into fellow musician Kendrick Lamar
PA
Gallagher’s criticism extended beyond the performance itself to broader concerns about American cultural influence in British sports.
“Americans are taking over our sport, they’re taking over the Premier League, they’ll take over the Champions League”, he told TalkSPORT.
The rock star offered a stark prediction for the future of British football. “Trust me, 20 years from now it will all be nonsense”, he warned.
Lamar’s performance featured several notable guest appearances, including Samuel L Jackson and Serena Williams.
