Kendrick Lamar may have been the star of this year’s Super Bowl halftime show, but Samuel L. Jackson’s cameo appearance as Uncle Sam during the rapper’s performance quickly became a big topic of discussion back in February 2025. However, according to Jackson, he was completely unaware of what he had signed up for prior to his first dress rehearsal.
Samuel L. Jackson talks about his ‘Uncle Sam’ gig in Super Bowl performance
During his recent appearance on Jimmy Kimmel‘s late-night talk show, where he promoted his role in the Sylvester Stallone-led Tulsa King series, Samuel L. Jackson revealed that he knew nothing about his role in Kendrick Lamar’s performance before dress rehearsals.
“I had no idea about any of that till we actually did dress rehearsal,” the 76-year-old Hollywood veteran told Kimmel.
Jackson disclosed that the show’s producers offered to send him the treatment for the act. However, he decided to pass on the opportunity, stating that he didn’t really care about that and simply promised to take part in the show.
He further added, “That was the first time I knew we were doing a revolution. I knew I was dressing as Uncle Sam. But I just thought that was like, ‘Okay, fine, it’s an Uncle Sam thing.’ When dress rehearsal starts, I’m there, I’m doing it, and I turn around and I said, ‘Wait a minute, that’s a flag… they’re making a flag up there.’ Now I’m going, ‘Ah, now it’s revolutionary.’”
“I just thought it was me being Sam,” Jackson remarked.
Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl LIX halftime act saw him perform his Grammy-winning hit single “Not Like Us,” with Samuel L. Jackson making brief appearances dressed as Uncle Sam.
Taking place at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana, the show also featured tennis legend Serena Williams and record producer Mustard.
Originally reported by Apoorv Rastogi on Mandatory.
