2022 Super Bowl Halftime Show Was an All-Star Hip-Hop Spectacle — See How Celebrities & Viewers Reacted
The Super Bowl delivers prime time entertainment for more than just sports fans. Every year millions of viewers tune in for the iconic commercials and the Halftime Show, even if they don’t care who takes home the win.
This year Dr. Dre, Eminem, Snoop Dogg, Mary J. Blige, Kendrick Lamar and surprise guest 50 Cent took the stage at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles to deliver the 2022 Super Bowl Halftime Show, and they pulled out one timeless hit after another.
Dre opened the performance and welcomed Snoop to the stage. Performing on top of a large set piece, they worked their way through “The Next Episode” and “California.”
That segued into the first surprise of the night: 50 Cent. The hit-maker appeared on the stage upside down before rocking out to his defining smash “In Da Club” while surrounded by a crew of dancers.
After completing his number, the camera panned to Blige dressed in a stunning white outfit. She hit all the right notes on “Family Affair” and pulled the vocal trigger during “No More Drama.”
Kendrick Lamar emerged on the scene surrounded by a crew of dancers wearing “Dre Day” sashes. He performed the fan-favored but unexpected “Maad City” and capped his set off with “Alright.”
Eminem then made an explosive entrance on the stage — literally, a set piece exploded. The star dusted off the unforgettable “Lose Yourself” as performers flooded the field. He ended his number by taking a knee, reportedly in support of Colin Kaepernick.
Dre hopped on the piano to introduce the final number: “Still Dre.” He shared the stage with the full group to cap off what will certainly be remembered as a star-studded tribute to hip-hop.
The show will also go down in the history books as the 2022 Super Bowl Halftime Show marks the first to feature deaf rappers. Warren Snipe and Sean Forbes joined the hit-makers onstage to put their own spin on the songs using American Sign Language.
Fans and celebrities alike rushed to social media to respond to the iconic performance in real time.
Missy Elliott and Kerry Washington stanned Blige, while Halsey ultimately paid tribute to Dre for helping shape the sound of modern hip-hop and rap.
Others commended Eminem for his move to stand up for social justice. Several pointed out that organizers allegedly asked him not to kneel and shouted him out for standing up for his beliefs.
Everyone had a favorite moment, be it Snoop crip walking onstage or one of the airtight transitions. Some particularly eagle-eyed fans also called out the appearance of Anderson .Paak on drums.
Standouts that appear to be instantly meme-able include 50 Cent’s upside down entrance and Blige dropping to the ground at the end of her set, and, of course, we compiled some of the best reactions.
See how viewers and stars reacted to the 2022 Super Bowl Halftime Show, below:
#MaryJBlige been LEGENDARY and WILL FOREVER BE! this is what LONGEVITY look like #SuperBowl
— Missy Elliott (@MissyElliott) February 14, 2022
OMG!!!!!!!!! WOW WOW WOW!!!!!!!! THE GREATEST HALFTIME SHOW IVE EVER SEEN!!!
— LeBron James (@KingJames) February 14, 2022
Mary J Blige. That’s it. That’s the tweet. Bowing down. #SuperBowlLVI
— kerry washington (@kerrywashington) February 14, 2022
that shit made me want to go to the studio !!!!!!! that was the best halftime show i ever seen !!!!!! WTF !!!!!
— Mustard (@mustard) February 14, 2022
we owe dr dre everything
— h (@halsey) February 14, 2022
Mary J Blige the QUEEN!
— DJ Akademiks (@Akademiks) February 14, 2022
Eminem had the entire stadium singing ‘Lose Yourself’ A BANGER TO THIS DAY #SuperBowl pic.twitter.com/SniMkHeVbA
— Ashley Nicole Moss (@AshNicoleMoss) February 14, 2022
Thank you JESUS for that Halftime show! WE DID THAT! @SnoopDogg @maryjblige @50cent @kendricklamar @maryjblige @Eminem Dr. Dre !!!! @nfl
— COACH PRIME (@DeionSanders) February 14, 2022
BEST. HALFTIME. SHOW. pic.twitter.com/CCKys5WhcH
— BrooklynDad_Defiant! (@mmpadellan) February 14, 2022
Me During The Halftime Show. pic.twitter.com/AEut9WECVl
— 13am Adebayo (@Bam1of1) February 14, 2022
THAT HALFTIME SHOW THO #SuperBowl pic.twitter.com/B9YAOkwQKP
— Raini Rodriguez (@Raini_Rodriguez) February 14, 2022
That halftime show was everything and more!!!! OMG
— Isaiah Thomas (@isaiahthomas) February 14, 2022
anderson paak playing the drums for this halftime show is technically a win for koreans
— sean yoo (@SeanYoo) February 14, 2022
Kendrick crossing Alright into Forgot about Dre and Eminem crossing that into Lose Yourself I am startuck
— Bri
(@Briaannnnnnna) February 14, 2022
no one:
50 cent:#HalfTimeShow pic.twitter.com/mtEsWMB6r2— kira kearn (@kirakearn) February 14, 2022
Snoop Dogg Crip walking at the Super Bowl gotta be top 5 moments in life
— Vada_Fly (@Vada_Fly) February 14, 2022
Me looking for my charger under the bed #HalfTimeShow #50cent pic.twitter.com/SNC5qcFVkV
— Robert Ybarra (@robert_ybarra1) February 14, 2022
Me after eating all these wings #HalfTimeShow pic.twitter.com/5frHb27O9C
— B (@dabordont) February 14, 2022
https://twitter.com/PigsAndPlans/status/1493035968911261699
Soon as I heard dre play" I aint mad at cha" on the piano. RIP PAC #SuperBowl #HalfTimeShow pic.twitter.com/KEh2zx1LSe
— Tycarii (@therealbuckzzz) February 14, 2022
I’ll tell my grandchildren these were The Avengers
#SuperBowl #HalfTimeShow #PepsiHalftime pic.twitter.com/YFahcmF5xX
— Alejandro NYM⚾️ (@Colombian_NYM) February 14, 2022
Trending: The NFL told Eminem not to kneel during the halftime show, but Eminem ended up taking a kneel anyway pic.twitter.com/vURzXZhymL
— JPA Football (@jpafootball) February 14, 2022
Eminem took the knee despite NFL told him not to. Legend behaviour. #PepsiHalftime #HalfTimeShow #Eminem pic.twitter.com/SOJUqZS89o
— akie (@akie_stark) February 14, 2022
Seeing 50 Cent surprise appearance at halftime show had me like.. #HalfTimeShow pic.twitter.com/1CEaSCryxY
— VatoJonnyyyy✌ (@torito3365) February 14, 2022
Me turning off the super bowl as soon as the halftime show ends pic.twitter.com/NSaekzT0ZD
— Anna | Harvard music teacher ⏲ (@strawbrry_Baek) February 14, 2022
kendrick ate this up he did amazing #HalfTimeShow pic.twitter.com/DPDTcBgbxu
— (@JINS0N94) February 14, 2022
just trying to find the new halftime memes #HalfTimeShow pic.twitter.com/mJadsZqbcw
— chemical.milkman (@chemicalmilkman) February 14, 2022
50 cent waiting for his turn#SuperBowl #HalfTimeShow pic.twitter.com/87JKXOsxvi
— DAWG4LIFE (@brenden_m10) February 14, 2022
50 Cent hanging there waiting for snoop like: #SuperBowl #HalfTimeShow pic.twitter.com/kGZQjAyX09
— Justin McPhail (@justinmcphai1) February 14, 2022
50 cent waiting for his part in the halftime show #SuperBowl pic.twitter.com/hWZaOp6N7p
— Dylan (@SketchBot400) February 14, 2022
50 cent after he finished his song #HalfTimeShow #PepsiHalftime pic.twitter.com/1XlB8ljopF
— lexi (@lexipravdica) February 14, 2022
me when someone says theres school tomorrow #SuperBowl #HalfTimeShow pic.twitter.com/47fAiVRjxg
— hailey wright (@haileyywrightt) February 14, 2022
this is gonna be the new the weekend meme #HalfTimeShow #SuperBowl pic.twitter.com/d9RHTQR1of
— h (@laureIheIIs) February 14, 2022
actual footage of 50 cent rehearsing his #SuperBowl show #HalfTimeShow pic.twitter.com/HtKKrehAMD
— Michael (@Mike_hbj) February 14, 2022
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