Super Bowl performer who waved ‘Sudan and Free Gaza’ flag at halftime arrested


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Summary

Arrest

A Super Bowl halftime performer has been arrested months after he waved a flag bearing the words “Free Gaza” and disrupted the show.

Charges

The 41-year-old man is now facing charges of disturbing the peace and resisting an officer.

Other incident

The performer is also listed in a separate legal matter as the victim of a shooting involving former NFL star Antonio Brown, who now faces a charge of attempted murder.


Full story

A performer who was part of Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl halftime show in February has been arrested after displaying a Sudanese flag with the words “Sudan and Free Gaza,” according to an announcement from Louisiana law enforcement on Thursday, June 26. The performer, identified as Zul-Qarnain Kwame Nantambu, 41, of New Orleans, Louisiana, turned himself in after an arrest warrant was issued, state police said. 

He was taken into custody and booked on charges of resisting an officer and disturbing the peace by interruption of a lawful assembly.

Authorities began their investigation after the Feb. 9 game between the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs at Caesars Superdome. Police said Nantambu “deviated from his assigned role” and caused a disruption during the halftime show by sprinting across the field with the flag. Security and police chased him, and said he refused to listen to their orders to stop.

Initially, no charges were to be filed. What changed?

New Orleans authorities initially said no charges would be filed against Nantambu. However, on Thursday, Louisiana State Police announced the charges.

New Orleans police were the first ones to respond to the incident, but the department noted that it was state police who eventually took over the investigation. That’s in part because of the performer’s access to a tightly secured area, according to an email to The Associated Press from Louisiana State Police Sgt. Katharine Stegall.

The NFL responds

The NFL, in a statement, praised the Louisiana State Police for “its diligence and professionalism.”

“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,” the statement made to The Associated Press said. “In addition to the ongoing criminal case, the NFL banned the individual from attending any NFL games or events.”

Super Bowl disruption

As Nantambu performed among dozens of dancers at the Super Bowl, he propped up a flag while standing on the roof of a vehicle that was the focal point of Lamar’s performance. Nantambu then hopped off stage and ran across the field before security personnel tackled him to the ground.

In a separate legal matter, Nantambu accused former NFL star Antonio Brown of shooting at him on May 17. Nantambu said one of the bullets grazed his neck. Brown is now facing a charge of attempted murder after investigators accused him of taking a gun from a security guard at a celebrity boxing event in Miami and firing two shots at Nantambu. An arrest warrant has since been issued for Brown, but the former wide receiver, who spent the majority of his career with the Pittsburgh Steelers, is reportedly outside the country.

Cassandra Buchman (Digital Producer) and Joey Nunez (Video Editor) contributed to this report.
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Why this story matters

The arrest of performer Zul-Qarnain Kwame Nantambu following his protest during the Super Bowl halftime show highlights issues surrounding security at major events, the boundaries of protest expression and evolving responses by authorities and organizations such as the NFL.

Event security and law enforcement

The incident underscores the challenges of maintaining security and enforcing rules at large, high-profile events like the Super Bowl, especially when staff and performers gain access to restricted areas.

Protest and freedom of expression

Nantambu's act of displaying a flag with political messages during the halftime show raises questions about how protests and expressions of dissent are managed and received within heavily regulated public spaces.

Institutional and legal response

The decision by authorities to ultimately file charges, along with the NFL's statement and subsequent ban, reflects how institutions balance legal, public relations and procedural considerations in response to disruptions and acts of protest.