Drake, one of the biggest names in music, has reportedly turned down the opportunity to perform at the Super Bowl halftime show on multiple occasions. This revelation came from Elliott Wilson, Editorial Director of Hip Hop Journalism at UPROXX Studios, during a recent episode of The Bigger Picture podcast by HipHopDX.
Wilson confirmed earlier claims made by Mal, co-host of the New Rory & Mal podcast, regarding Drake’s decision to pass on the prestigious Super Bowl stage. According to Wilson, Drake was approached to headline the Super Bowl halftime show twice: first in 2020 in Miami and again in 2021 in Tampa.
Both offers were orchestrated by none other than JAY-Z, who partnered with the NFL in 2019 to curate the halftime show. Despite the high-profile opportunity, Drake declined both invitations, leading to Shakira and Jennifer Lopez headlining the 2020 show and The Weeknd, who has a complicated relationship with Drake, taking center stage in 2021.
“I was skeptical at first,” Wilson said. “When Mal mentioned Drake turning down the Super Bowl, it seemed unbelievable. But I’ve spoken to multiple sources, and it’s true. Drake turned down the Miami and Tampa shows, which were the first two since JAY-Z took over the NFL partnership.”
The decision adds another layer to the complex business relationship between JAY-Z, Drake, and The Weeknd. While the artists have shared both rivalries and collaborations, it seems that Drake wasn’t ready to share the spotlight with either.
With Drake’s global stardom, many would expect him to jump at the chance to perform at one of the world’s most-watched events, but this latest news confirms that the rapper has his own reasons for saying no—twice. Could we see him on the Super Bowl stage in the future? Only time will tell.
