Jay-Z's upcoming Super Bowl Halftime Show has brought Lil Wayne back into the conversation, at least for one of his most outspoken supporters. Skip Bayless hasn't forgotten how disappointed the New Orleans rapper was when Kendrick Lamar landed the 2025 performance in his hometown. With another Hip Hop legend preparing to take the stage, the sports commentator is reminding everyone that Wayne still needs his opportunity. "Wayne deserves to be on that stage at some point," Bayless wrote on X Thursday (Oct. 29).
His message arrives three days after the NFL announced that Jay-Z will headline Super Bowl LXI at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, on February 14, 2027. The performance will be Jay's first as a halftime lead, despite Roc Nation having helped produce the event since 2019. Bayless didn't directly criticize the selection in his latest remark, but his continued advocacy for Wayne is familiar territory.
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Skip Bayless Previously Boycotted Kendrick Lamar's Super Bowl Performance
The longtime sports personality was among those who strongly opposed Wayne being passed over when the NFL brought Super Bowl LIX to The Big Easy. In Jan. 2025, he argued that Wayne should "obviously" headline the show, given his connection to the city.
Bayless eventually took his protest further. On the day Kendrick performed, he announced that he wouldn't watch the halftime show out of respect for his friend, calling the decision to exclude Wayne wrong. The Rap icon was a regular contributor to Bayless' former FS1 program Undisputed, recording its theme music and frequently joining him for sports discussions. The two have also spoken publicly about their close personal relationship, which began during Bayless' years at ESPN.
Weezy admitted that missing the New Orleans performance was hard to accept. In Sept. 2024, he told supporters the disappointment had "broke me," although he later clarified that he held no ill will toward Kendrick. During a Dec. appearance on The Skip Bayless Show, Wayne revealed that he'd spoken with Lamar and encouraged him to deliver a memorable performance.
Jay-Z's selection presents a different situation, with the Roc Nation founder finally accepting an opportunity he'd previously declined. The NFL hasn't announced any guest performers for February's show, leaving its full lineup unknown. Bayless' latest comments don't specifically call for Wayne to join Jay-Z, but they make clear that he hasn't given up on seeing his longtime friend headline the event himself.
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