Super Bowl halftime performer charged for running on field with ‘Sudan and Free Gaza' flag
A Super Bowl halftime show performer was charged Thursday with two misdemeanors, about 4 1/2 months after he ran across the field at the Superdome waving a flag that included the words 'Sudan and Free Gaza,' Louisiana State Police said.
Zul-Qarnain Kwame Nantambu, 41, turned himself in to authorities to face charges of resisting a police officer and disturbing the peace by interrupting a lawful assembly, police said. He surrendered in coordination with his attorney and was booked into the Orleans Parish Justice Center.
Nantambu revealed the flag and ran on the field during rapper Kendrick Lamar's halftime performance on Feb. 9. He was detained on the field after his demonstration but not charged. The NFL said at the time he would be banned for life from league stadiums and events.
According to a statement from police, Nantambu had been hired as an extra performer and 'had permission to be on the field during the performance, but did not have permission to demonstrate as he did.'
NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy thanked investigators for their work.
'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,' McCarthy said in a statement.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Herald Scotland
5 hours ago
- The Herald Scotland
Super Bowl 59 halftime show protester arrested months later
During Super Bowl 59 on Feb. 9, Lamar closed out his halftime show performance with his single "tv off." During the song, a man dressed in black went rogue on stage and ran around the set while he waved a Palestinian flag that read "Sudan" and "Gaza." The protester then stood atop a black lowrider vehicle and moved toward the 50-yard-line before security tackled him to the ground. The NFL confirmed to USA TODAY the day after Super Bowl 59 that the person had the flag hidden on himself before the show. Officials said state troopers began to investigate the incident after it occurred and identified the protester as Nantambu. An investigation revealed Nantambu confirmed he was hired as an extra for the performance and while he was allowed to be on the field, he "deviated from his assigned role" and did not have permission to perform the demonstration. Authorities added that law enforcement apprehended Nantambu during the show after he allegedly refused to comply with a stop order. After the incident, New Orleans police said the protester would not be arrested or charged, but it was the state police who conducted the action. Louisiana State Police arrested Nantambu and charged him with resisting an officer and disturbing the peace by interruption of a lawful assembly. He is currently booked into the Orleans Parish Justice Center. The NFL previously told USA TODAY the protester would be banned for life from all of the league's stadiums and events. "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 NFL said in a statement to the Associated Press. After the incident, Nantambu told NBC News he wanted to use the moment to "highlight the human suffering" related to the Israeli-Hamas war. Nantambu is also related to an incident involving a former NFL player, as he confirmed to TMZ Sports that he was the victim in an alleged shooting involving Antonio Brown. According to an arrest warrant in Miami-Dade County (Florida), first reported by the Washington Post, Brown is facing a charge of attempted murder with a firearm stemming from an altercation outside of a May 16 boxing event in Miami.
Daily Mail
11 hours ago
- Daily Mail
BREAKING NEWS Super Bowl protestor finally charged by cops after waving political message during Kendrick Lamar's halftime show
A Super Bowl halftime show performer has been charged with two misdemeanors, four and a half months after he wreaked havoc in the middle of Kendrick Lamar's performance. The highly-anticipated show at the Superdome in New Orleans - watched by a record 133.5million people - was interrupted midway through by a man waving a flag that included the words 'Sudan' and 'Free Gaza'. Zul-Qarnain Kwame Nantambu, 41, turned himself in to authorities to face of charges resisting a police officer and disturbing the peace by interrupting a lawful assembly, police said. He surrendered in coordination with his attorney and was booked into the Orleans Parish Justice Center. Nantambu revealed the flag and ran on the field during rapper Kendrick Lamar 's halftime performance on February 9, and he was detained on the field after his demonstration - but not charged. The NFL said at the time he would be banned for life from league stadiums and events, and he has now finally been charged by police. According to a statement from police, Nantambu had been hired as an extra performer and 'had permission to be on the field during the performance, but did not have permission to demonstrate as he did.' NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy thanked investigators for their work. '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,' McCarthy said in a statement. Separately, Nantambu also hit the headlines last month when he was named as a victim in a Miami shooting incident involving former NFL wide receiver Antonio Brown. In an exclusive interview with in the days that followed, Nantambu claimed Brown instigated the violent incident and shot him in the neck, with the bullet grazing his skin. As seen in court files obtained by Nantambu claimed during a 2022 encounter with Brown in Dubai that the Super Bowl winner stole a valuable pendant he had designed and produced. Nantambu further said Brown lied to police in the United Arab Emirates, accusing him of theft and resulting in Nantambu's brief imprisonment. Brown is now facing an attempted murder charge in the wake of the incident, and an arrest warrant was issued on June 13.
NBC News
12 hours ago
- NBC News
Super Bowl halftime performer charged for running on field with ‘Sudan and Free Gaza' flag
A Super Bowl halftime show performer was charged Thursday with two misdemeanors, about 4 1/2 months after he ran across the field at the Superdome waving a flag that included the words 'Sudan and Free Gaza,' Louisiana State Police said. Zul-Qarnain Kwame Nantambu, 41, turned himself in to authorities to face charges of resisting a police officer and disturbing the peace by interrupting a lawful assembly, police said. He surrendered in coordination with his attorney and was booked into the Orleans Parish Justice Center. Nantambu revealed the flag and ran on the field during rapper Kendrick Lamar's halftime performance on Feb. 9. He was detained on the field after his demonstration but not charged. The NFL said at the time he would be banned for life from league stadiums and events. According to a statement from police, Nantambu had been hired as an extra performer and 'had permission to be on the field during the performance, but did not have permission to demonstrate as he did.' NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy thanked investigators for their work. '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,' McCarthy said in a statement.
