Super Bowl halftime performer who unfurled Gaza-Sudan flag identified and won't face charges

Watch more of our videos on ShotsTV.com 
and on Freeview 262 or Freely 565
Visit Shots! now
A Super Bowl halftime show performer who displayed a flag in support of Gaza and Sudan was neither arrested nor summoned to court, according to the New Orleans Police Department.

During Kendrick Lamar’s performance, the man stood atop a 1987 Buick GNX, holding up the flag with the words "Gaza" and "Sudan" written on it. Dressed in all black with a face mask, he later jumped off the vehicle and ran onto the field while still holding the flag.

Videos showed him being apprehended by three members of law enforcement before Louisiana State Police escorted him off the field. The police confirmed that while he was ejected from the Caesars Superdome, he was not arrested or given a summons, meaning his identity was not officially released by authorities, according to Nola.com.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad
A protestor holds a Palestinian flag with the words "Gaza" and "Sudan" as US rapper Kendrick Lamar performs during Super Bowl LIX Chiefs vs Eagles Apple Music Halftime Show at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana, February 9, 2025. (Photo by Chandan Khanna / AFP) (Photo by CHANDAN KHANNA/AFP via Getty Images)A protestor holds a Palestinian flag with the words "Gaza" and "Sudan" as US rapper Kendrick Lamar performs during Super Bowl LIX Chiefs vs Eagles Apple Music Halftime Show at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana, February 9, 2025. (Photo by Chandan Khanna / AFP) (Photo by CHANDAN KHANNA/AFP via Getty Images)
A protestor holds a Palestinian flag with the words "Gaza" and "Sudan" as US rapper Kendrick Lamar performs during Super Bowl LIX Chiefs vs Eagles Apple Music Halftime Show at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana, February 9, 2025. (Photo by Chandan Khanna / AFP) (Photo by CHANDAN KHANNA/AFP via Getty Images) | AFP via Getty Images

The NFL confirmed that the man was part of the 400-member field cast for the show. As a result of the protest, he has been banned for life from all NFL stadiums and events.

Roc Nation, the entertainment company that produced the halftime show, distanced itself from the act, saying: "The act was neither planned nor part of the production and was never in any rehearsal."

The protest did not disrupt the performance and was not broadcast on national television.

Though police did not release his name, the performer was later identified on social media as Zulqarnain, who runs the Open Book platform. On Instagram, he shared pictures of himself holding the flag.

Related topics:

Comment Guidelines

National World encourages reader discussion on our stories. User feedback, insights and back-and-forth exchanges add a rich layer of context to reporting. Please review our Community Guidelines before commenting.

Telling news your way
Follow us
©National World Publishing Ltd. All rights reserved.Cookie SettingsTerms and ConditionsPrivacy notice