The Super Bowl is always a fusion of celebrities and sports, but this year was different. It wasn’t only the match or the halftime show that got everyone buzzing. The revival – if one could put it this way – of the ties between Williams and Drake sent celebrities on social media off the rails. When Mercedes-Benz Stadium set up the stage for Kendrick Lamar at a Super Bowl halftime, Serena was surprisingly already in attendance and was spotted partying to Kendrick’s song Not Like Us. This rekindled the debates about her previous relationship with Drake, adding new dating speculation with internet gossip.
With Williams being a crowd puller, she indeed made the Super Bowl LVIII memorable.
Serena Williams Steals the Spotlight at Super Bowl LVIII
Kendrick Lamar went a step ahead and became the first rap solo star to perform at Super Bowl halftime and had the whole world welcoming him after his show where he had SZA and surprisingly, Serena Williams attending. As SZA was already present at the Rio Olympics and sang her songs Luther and All the Stars with Lamar, just like always, Serena was not there to perform alongside SZA. She came to chill. Serena’s groove while Not Like Us was played made everyone remember why she was there. She came on stage while Lamar was singing the song and did the crip walk which instantly got her viral.
Fans were eager to link Serena’s attendance with previous relationships, specifically with Drake, who has had and has an ongoing feud with Lamar. This kept the audience on the edge of their seats while boosting the already well-renowned Super Bowl halftime.
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Drake and Serena Williams: A Complicated Past
The relationship between Sabrina Williams and Drake goes as far back as 2015 when they were often seen together in public, which led to a lot of speculation. They didn’t confirm being together, but in August 2024, a studio neckline surfaced of Drake saying that he “was” dating Sabrina and that his song “Summer 16” has a tone emanating towards said relationship.
Drake has often included Serena Williams as a reference in other songs bordering on romance including SZA and Rihanna. Now this topic boomed after those releases and a lot of people were concerned about how these celebrities got along in public given that SZA and Drake used to be together. Then again, SZA did sit alongside Serena, and that only lifted the eyebrows of everyone, given SZA’s past with the Canadian artists.
Kendrick Lamar’s Ultimate Power Move?
Kendrick Lamar’s opening Super Bowl performance is considered one of the most iconic moments of the Super Bowl, alongside the halftime spectacle. But it also felt like the next chapter in his ongoing beef with Drake. In 2023, the feud between Drake and Lamar escalated into a full-fledged hip-hop war, with both artists releasing diss track after diss track. In inviting both SZA and Serena Williams, who are former partners of Drake, to take center stage at the Super Bowl, Lamar had made it clear who the victor was.
There were online videos and reactions to the game where people suspected Lamar was dragging Drake, and so he was. One X user put it perfectly: “Kendrick Lamar is proof that having an arch-nemesis is a fundamental part of the human experience.” Another account simply joked that “Drake watching SZA and Serena on stage has to feel like a shotgun blast to the chest.”
Serena Williams Responds to the Hype
Williams has never shied away from the spotlight and so she embraced the moment during and after the performance. In her Instagram post, she shared, “Let’s go Super Bowl halftime??! I died a little! 💃🏿.” With excitement like that, it’s only natural that people will start talking which adds to the attention that might be in conjunction with her seeking presence and what it meant for her history with Drake.
Also read: The Hype of the Super Bowl: : NFL Showdown, Halftime Show
Final Thoughts
With so much happening at the halftime show, the 2024 Super Bowl has indeed been the most memorable one. From the game itself, and all the pop culture events that transpired during the halftime show, it is one for the books. The dance moves from Serena Williams, the choices picked by Kendrick Lamar, and Drake’s unpredictable shadow were certainly a combination for the grandest show out there.
As social media continues to break down every moment of the performance, there’s one lingering question. Is Drake going to publicly talk about that moment or will he simply act as if he doesn’t know?
