Report: Kendrick Lamar Super Bowl halftime show lands 133.5 million viewers, most-watched in history

Kendrick Lamar made history at Super Bowl LIX. His halftime show performance in New Orleans broke the record for most-watched halftime in history, according to Chart Data.

The Compton native’s presentation garnered 133.5 million viewers, per Chart Data. A massive number for a performance that certainly hit the mark, and had the public debating well after the final whistle blew inside the Caesars Superdome.

While the Super Bowl didn’t feature much of a game on the field over the weekend, Lamar’s show was certainly a spectacle. Filled with symbolism, an awesome setlist and all the pomp and circumstance you could ask for, the 37-year old’s performance was a landmark moment for his incredible career.

One dissenter from the massive audience is sure to be fellow rapper Drake. The massive musical artist has been embroiled in a classic rap beef with Lamar over the past year, and Lamar threw the knockout blow in New Orleans, playing his Grammy-winning diss of the Canadian artist, “Not Like Us” as part of an epic conclusion to the performance. 

Lamar even completed the moment with an ever-so memeable smile as he rapped the lyric “Hey Drake” into the camera. It was a well-thought out moment from the 22-time Grammy-winner during the show.

Additionally, Lamar brought out some special guests in New Orleans. SZA helped him perform a couple tunes, and producer Mustard, who’s been a frequent collaborator of Lamar’s, joined him on the stage, as well. The most surprising moment was seeing Serena Williams’ C-Walk, as it felt like the final middle finger to Drake, after he was romantically linked to the superstar tennis player in the past.

Oh, and let’s not forget about the use of Samuel L. Jackson, who emceed the halftime show playing a version of the American culture character “Uncle Sam,” providing context and narration in between songs. It was certainly a unique artistic choice, which helped make the show more memorable. 

All told, Kendrick Lamar’s performance was a history-making one, and the ratings will reflect that. Whether you were a fan of it or not, the numbers never lie, and the Compton native has set the standard moving forward.