Rapper Lil Wayne responded to the controversy surrounding Jay Z’s pick to perform during the Super Bowl halftime show in New Orleans.
Earlier this week, West Coast rapper Kendrick Lamar announced he was the halftime performer. His announcement drew criticism from fans who said the honor should go to New Orleans native Lil Wayne.
Rappers Juvenile (left), Birdman (center), Nicki Minaj and Master P were among the celebrities loudly voicing their opinions on the Lil Wayne snub.
“First of all I want to say forgive me for the delay,” Wayne said in an Instagram video on Wednesday. “I had to get strength to do this without breaking [down].”
Weezy thanked his fans for supporting him and having his back. “I want to say thank you to every voice, every opinion, all the care, all the love and the support out there… Your words turned into arms and held me up when I tried to fall back.”
The 41-year-old “Lollipop” rapper said he was hurt by the snub. “That hurt. It hurt a lot… it hurt a whole lot.”
He continued: “I blame myself for not being mentally prepared for a letdown, and for just automatically mentally putting myself in that position like somebody told me that was my position… I thought there was nothing better than that, in that spot, in that stage, in that platform…. So that hurt. It hurt a whole lot.”
Lil Wayne thanked his fans again for uplifting him.
“Y’all are f*****g amazing! It made me feel like sh*t not getting this opportunity,” he continued. And when I felt like sh*t, you guys reminded me that I ain’t sh*t without y’all. And that’s an amazing reality.”
He concluded: “It broke me and I’m just trying to put me back together. But, my god, have you all helped me. Thanks to all my peers, my friends, my family, my homies on sports television, and everybody repping me. I really appreciate that.”
Watch the video below.
