Louisiana State Police have confirmed the arrest of Zul-Qarnain Kwame Nantambu, an extra who performed alongside Kendrick Lamar during the Super Bowl Halftime Show. Nantambu held up the flags of Sudan and Palestine during the show and resisted officials who tried to stop him, therefore exhibiting signs of “disturbing the peace by interruption of a lawful assembly.”
The 41-year old was arrested on Thursday with a warrant that was obtained through the Orleans Parish Criminal District Court. According to officials, “Nantambu surrendered himself through coordination with his attorney.”
As seen in fan captured footage, the performer stood on a car used as a prop for Lamar’s performance and held up the flag for a few seconds during Lamar’s performance of “TV Off.” He was not televised (though the flag did faintly appear in the background of other shots), but was chased off the car by another person before being tackled by three men in suits.
Louisiana State Police add, “Security and law enforcement personnel on site quickly recognized the unauthorized action and apprehended the performer after he refused to comply with their commands to stop.”
“No one involved with the production was aware of the individual’s intent,” said Brian McCarthy, the NFL’s Vice President of Communications, at the time. “The individual will (be) banned for life from all NFL stadiums and events.” Also at the time, the New Orleans Police Department initially stated it was not going to press criminal charges for the protest.
The producers of the Halftime Show, Roc Nation, also issued a statement of their own, saying the protest “was neither planned nor part of the production and was never in any rehearsal.”
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