Performer Arrested for Displaying Palestinian, Sudanese Flags at Kendrick Lamar’s Halftime Show

The performer who displayed the Sudanese and Palestinian flags on the field during Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl LIX halftime show has been arrested, Louisiana State Police announced Thursday.

The individual — identified as 41-year-old New Orleans resident, Zul-Qarnain Kwame Nantambu — turned himself in after a warrant was issued, following a four-month probe into the February 9th performance at NOLA’s Caesars Superdome. He was booked into the Orleans Parish Justice Center on charges of resisting an officer and disturbing the peace by interrupting a lawful assembly.

Nantambu was one of several dancers participating in Lamar’s historic halftime show, but broke from his choreography to display a combined flag expressing support for Sudan and Palestine. He then sprinted across the field evading security personnel, allegedly ignoring orders to stop. After several minutes, he was eventually removed. Watch video of the moment below.

New Orleans police initially chose not to file charges against Nantambu, but the case was later transferred to Louisiana State Police due to the high-security nature of the Super Bowl perimeter — where Donald Trump was present for part of the game. This led to the issuance of a warrant and his subsequent arrest.

The NFL, which has imposed a lifetime ban on Nantambu, commended the state police for their “diligence and professionalism” in handling the incident. “We take any attempt to disrupt any part of an NFL game, including the halftime show, very seriously and are pleased this individual will be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law,” their statement continued.

Bizarrely, Nantambu is involved in another NFL-adjacent controversy: former NFL player Antonio Brown allegedly shot him at a celebrity boxing event in Miami on May 17th. According to authorities, Brown grabbed a handgun from a security guard and fired two shots toward Nantambu, one of which grazed his neck. Brown is now facing an attempted murder charge.