In a surprising revelation, Steve Stoute shared that Drake declined two opportunities to perform at the Super Bowl halftime show.
On a recent episode of The Pivot Podcast, Steve Stoute defended JAY-Z amidst criticisms surrounding Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl LIX halftime show. Stoute emphasized that without JAY-Z, many Black artists, including those from Hip Hop and R&B, wouldn’t have had the opportunity to perform on such a grand stage.
Transitioning off the praise for JAY-Z, Stoute dropped a bombshell: Drake had been offered not one, but two chances to perform at the Super Bowl. He said, ‘I will confirm Drake was offered the Super Bowl twice. Drake did turn down the Super Bowl twice.’ According to Stoute, had Drake accepted, he likely would have brought out Lil Wayne and Nicki Minaj during his performance. Stoute added, ‘He turned it down twice, which is fine. He didn’t want to do it.’
Elliott Wilson, Editorial Director of Hip Hop Journalism at UPROXX, backed up Stoute’s claim. Wilson mentioned in a recent episode of HipHopDX’s The Bigger Picture that multiple sources confirmed Drake turned down the Super Bowl, skipping both the Miami and The Weeknd shows. ‘These guys are rivals with each other, but businesswise, JAY-Z wanted Drake on that Super Bowl stage and he turned it down twice,’ Wilson explained.
The news first surfaced from Mal, co-host of New Rory & Mal. This revelation adds another layer to the ongoing debate of who should headline the coveted halftime show. While many fans were excited for Lamar’s performance, others believed Lil Wayne, especially given his New Orleans roots, would have been a more fitting choice. But it seems Stoute firmly believes JAY-Z’s choices should not be criticized, as they continue to elevate Black artists in the music industry.
Drake’s decision to turn down the Super Bowl twice adds another twist to the ever-intriguing world of celebrity performances. Regardless, JAY-Z’s role in giving Black artists a platform at the halftime show remains undeniable.
