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.
Separate legal matter with former NFL star
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.
